A distinctive West Sussex home, described by its owner as a 'marmite' property that elicits strong reactions, has been listed for sale at £5 million. The house, known as Shards, is located in Haywards Heath and was completed in October 2022.
Clinton Dall, a father of four and a former owner of a home featured on the television show Grand Designs, is selling the property through Savills. Mr. Dall, managing director of Dall Cleaning Services, has resided in Shards with his girlfriend since its completion. He told This is Money that the house "is marmite. You either get it or you don't."
Construction on Shards began in 2019 on a former quarry site. Mr. Dall secured special 'paragraph 80' planning permission, which requires properties built in the open countryside to be exceptional in every aspect.
The house, designed by architects to integrate with the site's topography, features angular, overlapping panels resembling glass shards, inspired by the quarry's history. Mr. Dall personally redesigned the interior, opting for black brick, black wood, and extensive glass. He described the property as "a very dynamic house to look at and live in. It's like a James Bond-style house."
Shards spans over 5,000 square feet and includes five bedrooms and six bathrooms. The property features a large reception hall leading to a dual-aspect open-plan living area, a black Italian Modulnova kitchen with high-end appliances, and a walk-in wine store. The main bedroom overlooks the pool terrace.
The property sits on approximately two acres of grounds and includes a swimming pool. According to Savills, the house incorporates high levels of insulation, thermal mass, an air source heat pump, and brown roof systems designed to promote biodiversity and manage water. It has received accolades including the Eco Award and Small Scale Residential Award at the Sussex Heritage Trust awards, and a Building Craft Award.
Mr. Dall mentioned that building Shards during the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges. He had originally intended Shards to be a smaller home for him but found it was neither in size nor financially a downsize. He is currently in the process of designing a new, smaller bungalow in Kingswood.
Mr. Dall stated, "There is nothing in Shards I dislike and I will miss it." The property is being sold with the potential for a buyer to 'make the most of its swimming pool and grounds'.
