RIBA Award-Winning 'Floating' Design Home with Cantilevered Sections

The ‘Black House’ in Great Chart, Kent, was constructed using an S355-grade steel frame for its primary structure, enabling the cantilevered sections that give it a distinctive “floating” appearance.

The house blends framed and linear views across four sculpted gardens, each capturing the surrounding landscape and comprises five modules around a central courtyard. The Black House’s rectangular form is split by site axes, a pool-to-Populus tree view, and a former path. Each block connects to a unique garden aspect, with a brick tower’s roof offering a final vista. The courtyard, with extensive glazing, floods the home with light and air, creating a sheltered year-round outdoor space.

Assesmont’s UK CA BS EN 1090 Execution Class Level 3 accreditation qualifies us to fabricate, construct and install structures requiring this level of extreme load bearing generated by the cantilevered design. The core framework supports the structure and cantilevered sections and is anchored to a concrete foundation with high-strength bolts.

The cantilever beams support the cantilevered sections (3-5m span). The backspan beams and counterweights balance the cantilevers with X-bracing, enhancing rigidity and stability. The S355 steel framework, with columns, cantilever beams, and bracing, supports the “floating” design, enabling open-plan interiors and large glazing.