Front Doors — Design for Ebbsfleet

Residential Entrances

Entrance areas should provide a warm welcome that is attractive, secure and convenient for the delivery of post and packages.

Applicants should demonstrate how their scheme meets the following design objectives.

Design Objectives

Access : The front entrance should provide step-free access from the pavement and parking space into the house, that is compliant with Building Regs (M4 Part 2). 2.
Shelter : A recessed entrance porch or roof canopy provides shelter from the elements, and can also articulate the entrance within the elevation. Any canopy / structure should be developed to complement the design language of the home, and aim to use natural materials with a patina, grain or pattern to create an attractive and tactile entrance area.
Materials : The entrance area is the most closely observed part of the exterior, and designers should therefore use materials that have a grain or patina (to provide visual interest), while being robust and easy to maintain.
Storage : Opportunities to incorporate secure storage for post and packages should be considered, to support modern lifestyles and internet shopping deliveries. Aim to incorporate a reasonable size weatherproof cupboard, with either a secure locking system, or a space within the external entrance area that could be upgraded. 5.
Lighting: Lighting should be incorporated into the entrance area, ideally switched by a light and proximity sensor.
Defensible Planting: Robust structural planting to a minimum height of 800mm within the entrance area can help to reinforce the perception of a defensible space around the front door. 7.
Services : Opportunity to discretely incorporate services/service metres within entrance area.

Exemplary projects providing welcoming and characterful entrances…

Goldsmith Street, Norwich : Mikhail Riches Architects

A recessed entrance porch,side glazing light, provide an attractive front door. The profiled steel mesh door provides concealed storage.

Marmalade Lane, Cambridge; Mole Architects

The change in material around the entrance provides a generous welcome, and highlights the entrance within the facade.

Trumpington Meadows; Allies and Morrison

At Barratt Home’s Trumpington Meadows development timber cladding provides a warm tactile entrance area, with meter boxes and storage sensitively concealed within the canopy side return.

Horsted Park, Chatham; Proctor Matthews Architects

Entrance area uses a recessed porch to provide shelter, incorporates a glazed side panel for safety and security, and also cleverly conceals meter boxes in the side wall

Letchworth Garden City

The recessed porch, front door glazing and detailing surrounding the entrance provides a generous welcome.

Elephant and Castle, London ; Macreanor Lavington Architects

The recessed porch is elegantly articulated by the ashlar surround, with timber cladding providing a tactile finish, accommodating meters discretely. The entrance railings and hedge support the formal facade design to create a high quality defensible space.