The Reservoir, Harrietsham, Kent

Set within approximately six acres of private land in rural Kent, this spectacular house, formerly a 1930s water reservoir, was transformed from its industrial past by international designers, Brinkworth. It was designed for the artist Dinos Chapman and knitwear designer Tiphaine de Lussy and exemplifies brutalist principles throughout its massive, concrete-columned framework. Expansive internal spaces, harmonious material marriages and panoramic views towards the North Downs are just some of the sublime interventions that testify to the home's brilliance.

Environmental Performance

The house was designed with sustainability in mind and includes rainwater harvesting, high-performance glazing, a ground-source heat pump and MVHR to keep it warm in winter and cool in summer.

The Tour

The building forms part of a link-detached pair that were transformed by Brinkworth in 2009. The property is entered via double gates that lead to a short driveway with parking for several vehicles.

With the exception of a glazed pavilion, which makes up the entire first floor, internal accommodation takes a rare, lateral form. Its 6,400 sq ft includes five bedrooms, four bathrooms and an outdoor shower area arranged along the southern façade, each with glazed doors onto the enclosed 25m lap pool.

An enormous open-plan living room, kitchen and dining area spans some 50 ft at the rear. Its mass of glazing opens onto a large garden terrace, where an outdoor kitchen is arranged beneath a cantilevered section of the roof. The kitchen is bespoke and incorporates appliances by Miele and Gaggenau. To the west of the open-plan expanse is a more intimate sitting and media room. On the opposite side, behind the kitchen and beyond the utility room, is an especially spacious studio, currently used as a gym and workshop.

At the first-floor level, reached via a brilliant open-tread staircase with steel balustrades, is the glazed pavilion. This massive room is zoned, with an office, library and a sunken living space. Glazing on several aspects looks beyond the huge wraparound terrace to miles of paddocks, fields and rolling hills in the distance.

At the rear of the house, the huge terrace steps down to a lawned garden, bordered by trees, shrubbery and fences to the surrounding paddocks.

The property provides a significant income from use as a location for television, film and fashion shoots.

The Area

The house is located close to the stunning grounds of Leeds Castle, between the popular villages of Headcorn, Sutton Valence and Harrietsham. Within walking distance is an excellent dining pub, the Pepper Box Inn and there are several more pubs in and around Sutton Valence. Hollingbourne also has two good pubs in The Windmill and The Dirty Habit, which derives its name from its status as an 11th-century stop-off point for those on the Pilgrim’s Way towards Canterbury.

For fine dining, The West House in Biddenden is an excellent choice, as much for the food as for the setting in a 16th-century weaver’s cottage. The Milk House in Sissinghurst is heralded for its emphasis on local produce and its lovely garden and backdrop of vineyards. More award-winning vineyards and producers such as Chapel Down and Balfour Winery can be found in Tenterden and Staplehurst respectively, and Gusbourne and Tillingham lie a little further afield towards the historic town of Rye.

There is an excellent range of primary and secondary schools in the area. Within Ulcombe there is a Victorian Church of England primary school, one of the oldest in Kent. The surrounding area also benefits from a range of grammar schools, including the Oftsed-rated "Outstanding" Invicta Grammar for girls and Maidstone Grammar for boys. Public schools include Sutton Valence School, Sevenoaks School and Benenden School.

Despite its tranquil setting, Fairbourne Heath is exceptionally well-connected. It lies just a 10-minute drive south of the M20, connecting directly to the M25 or for routes south to the Kent coast. Train services run from Harrietsham to London Victoria in approximately one hour and 20 minutes or from Headcorn to London Bridge in under an hour. Ashford is 13 miles away and has a high-speed rail service to London St Pancras.

Council Tax Band: G