Architectural Styles in the Isle of Wight
Otherwise known as ‘the Island’, the Isle of Wight off the south coast of England is a small island of rugged coastline, rolling countryside and seaside towns. The traditional house styles of the island range from chocolate box style thatched cottages, Victorian terraces and the ubiquitous semi-detached houses from the Edwardian era and the 1960s. The island also has a variety of modern architectural builds worthy of Grand Designs.
Victorian terrace coastal houses
Traditional seaside Victorian terraced houses can be found in coastal towns across the Isle of Wight in Ryde and Cowes.
The main feature of a terraced house is the bay window that offers more space in the living room and panoramic views along the street.
Originally, Victorian terraces were built with wooden sash windows but most have not survived due to poor maintenance and were replaced with uPVC casement windows. To renovate the period property back to its original best condition, sash windows can be reinstalled.
For energy efficiency, casement windows do offer superior heat retention and a buffer against the seafront weather.
Front doors are timber panel doors with glazed upper panels featuring stained glass. Again, these are prized original details to find still in a property today.
Houses near the coast are often rendered and painted in pastel colours. To complement a coloured house, white windows and a brightly painted front door look the best.
For Victorian properties, we recommend:
Windows: Sash windows in UPVC or wooden sash windows, in white.
Doors: Composite panel door with glazed upper panels and stained glass, in bright colours. For the coast, bright turquoise, pinks, greens and blues are popular choices.
1930s and 1960s semi-detached house
Like the mainland, in the towns across the Isle of Wight can be found the standard housing stock of semi-detached houses and bungalows built in the 30s and 60s.
The 1930s semi has half brick and half render or pebble dash walls. The 1960s house has walls of light brown, grey or buff-coloured brick half-clad with weatherboards or concrete hanging tiles.
Earlier 1930s semis usually have faceted bay windows sometimes featuring leaded glass. In the 60s, windows became bigger in size with large casement picture windows, often in aluminium frames.
For semi-detached properties, we recommend:
Windows: Casement windows in uPVC or aluminium windows and leaded glass or internal Georgian bars with frames in white, grey or black.
Doors: Composite panel door with glazed panels and decorative glass. Early 1930s properties suit traditional colours such as white, black, brown and blue, or a natural varnished timber finish. 1960s houses suit brighter colours for doors.
Modern/Architectural
Architecturally designed homes worthy of Grand Designs are usually detached houses built on generous plots.
The modern designs feature large expanses of glass to maximise light and often borrow materials and building techniques used in commercial construction. Large sheets of glass need strong frames to support them, so aluminium frames are popular for structure and to achieve a signature sleek look.
Doors can be oversized in natural timber, aluminium or a continuation of glazing.
For modern/architectural properties, we recommend:
Windows: Aluminium windows or uPVC flush casement frames in a dark grey or black.
Doors: Natural timber door or fully glazed door and aluminium frame in contemporary dark grey or classic black.
Thatched Cottages
Traditional English country cottages are highly desired and none more so than the chocolate box style of the thatched roof cottage. Shanklin and Goshill have beautiful examples of quintessentially English cottages.
The thatched cottage will have a low sloping roof, small windows and low ceilings.
Most cottages fall within conservation areas, or listed building status and this limits any changes that can be made to the appearance of the building and the windows must be in an original style. Usually timber casement or sash.
A front door is usually timber with stable door styles being a popular choice.
For thatched cottage properties, we recommend:
Windows: Wooden (sometimes uPVC) flush casement windows with traditional Georgian bar styling in muted colours, or wooden sash windows.
Doors: Wood grain effect composite door, or wooden door in classic green, brown or grey.