FRISTON
NEAR ALDEBURGH,
Viewing by appointment with The Modern House
Tel +44 (0)1420 520805
info@themodernhouse.co.uk
www.themodernhouse.co.uk
Set in approximately two acres of secluded gardens and
woodland, overlooking the Alde Estuary, this wonderful
house was designed by architects Michael and Patty
Hopkins. Completed in 2000, replacing two 18th century
gamekeepers cottages, the house is largely constructed
of glass and local Aldeburgh Red brick.
The house offers generous accommodation, including
four bedrooms, a large, light living space and an annexe to
the side of the house. The fittings throughout the house
SUFFOLK
750,000 FREEHOLD
are all of an impressively high standard. Reached by an
unmade track, the house and gardens have no immediate
neighbours and offer an entirely private and tranquil
setting.
Situated just over a mile from the heart of Aldeburgh, one
of Britains most desirable seaside towns, the house is
also just 5 miles from Saxmundham, a town served by a
train route to Ipswich and London Liverpool Street.
Michael and Patty Hopkins are both directors of Michael
Hopkins and Partners, an internationally renowned
practise that has completed many major projects across
Britain including the New Parliamentary Building and
Underground Station at Westminster, London, the
Manchester City Art Gallery and Glyndebourne Opera
House, Sussex.

SITUATION
The house is situated approximately a quarter of a mile
down an unmade track off Aldeburgh Road. Aldeburgh
Road runs through the village of Friston and forms part of
the A1094, a road that links Aldeburgh to the A12 (a main
artery that runs from central London to Great Yarmouth).
The house enjoys uninterrupted views of the Suffolk
Wildlife Trust reserve and the Alde Estuary on one side
and the grazing land of Hazelwood Common on the other.
Nearby Aldeburgh is one of Britains most attractive
coastal towns. It offers superb opportunities for walking,
fishing and sailing. The town also provides a good
Clockwise from top: Living room with doors to decked
terrace; Decked terrace; Rear elevation and garden
selection of shops, restaurants and pubs. The town is also
renowned for the annual Aldeburgh Music Festival and the
Dunwich Heath and Minsmere Bird Reserve. A number
of interesting examples of modern architecture can be
found in the area, including the house of H. T. Cadbury-
Brown in Aldeburgh (1964) and Snape Maltings (a malt
house converted by Arup Associates in 1969 under the
instructions of Benjamin Britten).
The house is approximately 5 miles from Saxmundham
railway station which runs commuter services direct to
London Liverpool Street (journey time just under two
hours). The station also runs services to Ipswich, which
offers connections to London Liverpool Street throughout
the day.

ACCOMMODATION
GROUND FLOOR
Entrance Hall
4.2m x 3.8m / 137 x 125
With galvanised steel spiral staircase
leading to upper floors.
Living Room
11.9m x 4.7m / 39 x 15 6
A very large, light south-facing
space with double height ceiling and
uninterrupted views towards the Alde
Estuary. Exposed Aldeburgh Red
brick walls with a full-length glazed
elevation leading to rear terrace. Pitch
pine flooring.
Kitchen
4.2m x 3.7m / 137 x 121
Contemporary kitchen with
integrated Smeg appliances including
dishwasher American-style fridge/
freezer. Granite work surfaces and
central work station with gas hobs
and electric oven and extractor hood.
Window at front provides views to
Hazelwood Common. Recessed
ceiling lights.
Utility Room
2.8m x 2.6m / 93 x 65 Bedroom 2
With stainless steel sink, fully glazed
door to rear garden, wall-mounted oil-
fired boiler and hot water cylinder.
Bathroom
With mosaic tiled walls, WC, hand
basin and shower.
Bedroom 1
4.2m x 3.7m / 137 x 12
Window to front. Walk-in dressing
room.
En suite bathroom
Large room with mosaic tiled walls,
WC, bath and shower. Features Vola
and Villeroy & Boch fittings. Recessed
ceiling lights.
FIRST FLOOR
Landing
With window overlooking the Living
Room.
4.1m x 3.7m / 137 x 121
Windows to front with views over
Hazelwood Common. Pitch pine
flooring. Recessed ceiling lights.
Bedroom 3
4.1m x 3.7m / 137 x 121
Windows to front with views over
Hazelwood Common. Pitch pine
flooring. Recessed ceiling lights.
Bathroom
With mosaic tiled walls, WC, hand
basin and bath with shower over.
Clockwise from top left: Living room;
Kitchen; Bedroom 1; Entrance hall

SECOND FLOOR
Bedroom 4
11.6m x 2.2m / 38 x 121
A large, long open-plan space with
angled ceiling. Two Velux windows
provide extensive and uninterrupted
views across the Alde Estuary. Pitch
pine flooring. Recessed ceiling lights.
Currently in use as a studio and
further reception room.
ANNEXE
Studio
Provides two spaces of 4.6m x 3.1m /
15 x 104 with an extensive storage
unit running in between. Could be
used to create two further bedrooms
plus WC and shower.
OUTSIDE SPACE
The house is surrounded by
approximately 2 acres of garden.
Front
Grassed area providing parking space
for three or more cars, together with
garden tool and lawnmower shed.
Rear
Extensive lawns with a selection of
mature trees, orchard and vegetable
garden. An extensive decked terrace
can be found at the rear of the
house which offers extensive views
towards the Alde Estuary. A dovecote
/ garden shed can also be found in the
gardens.
Clockwise from top: Bedroom 4; Details
of the stair; Dovecote; Detail of the
living room; First floor landing
SERVICES
The house and annexe benefit from
under floor heating to the ground
floor. There is a private water supply
from a well and drainage is to a
private treatment system.
Approx gross internal floor area:
Main house 204 sq m / 2199 sq ft
Studio 35 sq m / 377 sq ft
Please note that all areas,
measurements and distances given in
these sales particulars are approximate
and rounded. The text, photographs and
floor plans are for general guidance
only. The Modern House has not tested
any services, appliances or specific
fittings prospective purchasers
are advised to inspect the property
themselves. All fixtures, fittings
and furniture not specifically
itemised within these particulars
are deemed removable by the vendor.
HISTORY The Friston house stands on the site of two 18th century cottages, built for
gamekeepers on the Wentworth estate. The cottages were in an entirely
dilapidated condition when bought by the current owners of the house six
years ago so it was decided that they should be replaced.

The new house retains the feel of these cottages (especially the front
elevation) with the use of a pitched slate roof and striking Aldeburgh Red
brick. The houses architects, Michael and Patty Hopkins (who live in their own
house nearby) wanted to avoid disturbing the rural atmosphere of the site so
designed a house that is reserved in its modernity.

The Hopkinss pioneered the High-Tech style of architecture (along with Richard
Rogers, Norman Foster and Nicholas Grimshaw) with the startling design of a
house in Hampstead in 1976, made almost entirely of steel and glass. These
tendencies, although muted, still emerge throughout the Friston house, most
notably in the large, double-height living room which has one entirely glazed
wall and extensive exposed structural flitch beams (made from Douglas fir and
galvanised steel). The spiral steel staircase, made specifically for the house, is
another feature that links the architecture of the house to such projects as the
Greene King Warehouse in Bury St Edmunds, designed by Michael Hopkins
and Partners in 1976.

In the book, The Work of Michael Hopkins and Partners (Phaidon Press,
2001), Colin Davies describes Michael Hopkinss architecture as functional
and honest For him, the starting point of the design process is never an
intellectual idea, [it is] always an instinctive response to brief and context. This
much is clear in the Friston house, an essentially straightforward and satisfying
piece of architecture constructed largely from locally-sourced materials.

Michael Hopkins (b. 1935) and his wife Patricia (b. 1942) established their
practise in 1976. Among their most celebrated projects are the Mount Stand at
Lords Cricket Ground, the David Mellor Offices and Showroom in Derbyshire,
Glyndebourne Opera House in Sussex, Manchester City Art Gallery and the
New Parliamentary Building and Underground Station at Westminster. Michael
Hopkins and Partners have also completed a number of celebrated private
residences over the years. Both Michael and Patty Hopkins are RIBA Gold
Architects drawing, 2000 Medal laureates.
FLOORPLANS

GROUND FLOOR

Living Room
11.9m x 4.7m
390 x 156 Utility
2.8m x 2.6m
93 x 85

Bedroom 1 Entrance Hall

4.2m x 3.7m 4.2m x 3.8m
137 x 120 137 x 125

Dressing Room Kitchen

2.8m x 1.5m 4.2m x 3.7m
93 x 49 137 x 121

FIRST FLOOR

Bedroom 2 Bedroom 3
4.1m x 3.7m 4.1m x 3.7m
137 x 120 137 x 120

SECOND FLOOR

Bedroom 4
11.6m x 2.2m
38 x 121

ANNEXE

4.6m x 3.1m 4.6m x 3.2m

150 x 104 150 x 104

Contact The Modern House +44 (0)1420 520805

info@themodernhouse.co.uk www.themodernhouse.co.uk