The Round House (EHER 34738)

Mid 1930s house in International Modern style by Oliver Hill.

Listed building description Mid 1930s house in International Modern style by Oliver Hill. The house is plastered, and is possibly built of concrete. It is circular and two storey, flat roofed with a chimney stack visible to rear left. Originally designed as the Frinton Park Estate Offices and containing a mural depicting the plan of the estate, it is not known if this survives. A flat canopy to ground floor continues around the building, under built to left with two 3 light windows and glazed door and to right with a porch, small circular windows to side walls and glazed door. Frinton Park Estate, developed 1934 onwards was intended as a planned residential township but never realised due to lack of public support for flat- roofed houses. Now interspersed with other buildings the estate still retains the largest group of Modern Movement houses in the country. Despite the recent replacement of the glazing, the building remains a strong architectural statement with the striking use of the circular plan, projecting 'skirt' and the position of the building as a focal point of the model estate. <1> <2>