A streamlined coastal improvement for a sea-view apartment building.

The residential refurbishment of a seafront apartment building in the scenic Dorset village of Canford Cliffs has been completed this year.

Canford Cliffs grew around a development by the Canford Cliffs Estate Company, on land acquired from the Canford Estate, at the turn of the last century. Covenants were set in place to restrict the development of business and industry in the village, and preserve its green spaces. The development began with a few houses in Haven Road, but boasted a smart promenade, pleasure gardens, and a village hall, as well as more housing, when it was given to the local authority.

The village experienced a building boom in the 1950s, and since then, many houses have been converted into flats or demolished to build apartment buildings.

First floor balcony; Roof terrace.

The apartment building was the property of three clients - each owning the freehold of three individual flats, who had submitted several different planning applications for the improvement of the building, which suffered from rising damp, damp bridging cavities, poor access to the upper flats, and poor acoustics between the properties (poor sound transmission).

Sir Stanley Clarke (Northern Racing PLC) had owned the first floor apartment, and it was his family who sought RPS' advice, in March 2005. After preparing a carefully thought out and successful presentation for the concerned parties, RPS provided the architectural services, and planning permission was granted in September 2005. Building commenced in March 2006 and was finished in January of this year, within a budget of £500,000.

The old stairwell and a garage building behind the property were demolished to be replaced with newer models.

Front and rear views before.

The balconies of the building were extended to maximise space, and make the most advantage of the sea view looking out to the Sandbanks, Bournemouth studland, and Poole harbour. The metal railings were removed, and more modern stainless steel and glass balustrades took their place to blend in with the buildings exterior and the surrounding landscape more smoothly, and maximise the benefits of the sea view without obstruction.

The outside of the building underwent extensive remedial structural work to resolve the damp problems and the acoustic inconveniences. New entrance canopies were added, and the windows were replaced with aluminium powder-coated ones to enhance the appearance of the building and reduce long-term maintenance. The outside overhaul included the replacement of the rendering with a new white finish that was extended to also wrap around the previously exposed brickwork ends, adding to the buildings new streamlined and harmonious feel.

Front and rear views after.