Runnymede

Private House. Built in 1936 by Wells Coates, with builders E and L Berg, Runnymede is a rare example of a Sunspan House. The building sits on concrete foundations and is constructed with a steel frame clad in steel sheeting, finished with plaster walls. It has flat roofs. The design follows a near-diamond shape, with two storeys and a roof-top room, the upper floor set behind balconies – featuring a curved prow and flanked by single-storey wings facing south towards the sea. A two-storey wing forms the entrance on the north side, facing the road. Flat roofs are accessed from a small room or lobby which incorporates a stack. The style is International Modern. Original window surrounds remain, although the windows themselves have been replaced, with some concealed behind later screens to the balconies. Balconies are supported on narrow columns. The interior contains no features of special interest. The design developed from Isotype studies undertaken as part of the Lawn Road flats (Grade I) in Camden, London. The Sunspan House concept, a kit designed for easy assembly, reflected modernist principles of accessible, architect-designed housing. It holds strong group value with Sea Lane House, another modern movement house already listed.