A Seaside Townhouse

Few sites on the Wirral offer views like this. 103 South Parade sits on the waterfront in West Kirby, overlooking the River Dee and the hills of North Wales beyond. On a clear day you can see Hilbre Island and Little Eye resting quietly in the estuary. Yet despite this setting, this townhouse felt disconnected from its surroundings.

Bedrooms occupied the front of the house where the best views were, while the kitchen and living spaces were pushed to the rear overlooking a small yard. The result was a home that felt back to front.

The biggest issue created by the existing layout became clear on entering. Greeting you at the front door was a long, windowless hallway running the full depth of the house. It felt dark, unwelcoming and uninspiring.

It was clear that this transformation needed to restore views and reconnect the house with the sea.

Reimagining the house

The client didn’t have a fixed brief and that was ok. He knew the house wasn’t working in its current state, he knew it had enormous potential and he knew it needed to feel like a seaside home. That was enough to go on.

Our first idea was the boldest. Rather than working around the existing layout, I suggested turning the house around completely. The bedrooms would move to the quieter rear of the property, while the kitchen, dining and living spaces would be relocated to the front of the house where the views across the Dee could be fully enjoyed.

It was a simple idea, but it fundamentally changed the way the building worked.

To make this possible we also unlocked the basement. Previously dark, damp and underused, it was redeveloped to accommodate an additional bedroom with an ensuite shower room alongside generous storage areas for bikes, equipment and even a small boat.

A house re-connected

The front of the house is now the heart of the home. The entrance hall, kitchen, dining space and living area were combined into a single flowing space that welcomes you into the home with views out to sea.

To strengthen this connection further, we introduced a large balcony across the front elevation. The balcony extends the living space outward, allowing the family to step directly into the sea air and enjoy uninterrupted views across the River Dee.

Achieving this required collaboration with the local planning authority and building control, who initially had concerns about the balcony and escape routes. Through careful design and constructive dialogue we were able to resolve these challenges and deliver the vision the client had embraced.

Alongside the spatial changes, the project also improved the resilience of the building. The driveway was redesigned to create a more welcoming arrival space and sheltered parking, while new insulation, upgraded windows and flood defence measures ensure the house is comfortable and prepared for the future.

A transformation

There is one moment in the house that captures the transformation perfectly.

During our first meeting, the client stood in the middle of that long, dark hallway and said:

“It’s here, right here, that I struggle the most. It’s dark and lifeless. It gives me cabin fever.”

For him, that corridor summed up everything that felt wrong about the house. Despite living beside the sea, the experience of the home felt closed in and disconnected from its surroundings.

Today, standing in that same spot, you can see the sea and Hilbre Island.

That single change summarises the success of this project.