Kent's Wildernesse Restaurant Wins Praise for Blending Heritage and Modernity
Nestled within the Wildernesse Conservation Area, the restaurant in Sevenoaks, Kent, has made headlines. This timber-vaulted, metal-skinned pavilion, designed by Morris & Company, is a contemporary gem that blends heritage and modernity. The restaurant's design masterfully merges classical forms with modern construction methods. Internally, timber vaults and CLT arches rest on a grid of glulam columns, creating a rhythm of arches that frame large glazed openings. A central, elevated lantern houses the open kitchen, flooding the space with natural light. Carr Grange Joinery Limited installed the vaulted ceilings, exterior timber cladding, and feature wall panelling. Externally, the restaurant extends into dining areas, framed by a courtyard to the west and an orchard to the south, seamlessly connecting it to the wider landscape. The metallic skin of the building pays homage to the delicacy of a traditional glasshouse, while the solid masonry plinth anchors it to the existing house. The design aims to reinstate the pavilion typology of a conservatory that once stood on the site, creating an exquisite dining space with transparency and a focal point within the estate. The restaurant, part of the Wildernesse Estate retirement community, has been highly commended in the 2019 Wood Awards for its Commercial and Leisure category. Its unique blend of heritage and modernity, along with its exceptional design and craftsmanship, has earned it this prestigious recognition.
