A 19th-Century Water Tower in the U.K. Is Now a $3.7 Million Coastal Retreat
- A Victorian-era water tower in Suffolk, England has been transformed into a unique seven-story home with modern amenities, offering 360-degree views and a historic architectural charm.
A Victorian-era water tower overlooking England's Suffolk coast has been reimagined as one of the most unusual residential listings to hit the market this year—a 72-foot-tall, seven-story home with 360-degree views and a serious architectural backstory.
Located on a desirable road in the charming seaside town of Aldeburgh, the Grade II-listed brick structure was originally built in 1870. By the time former pharmacist Emad Borno bought the yellow brick white elephant at auction in 2007, the tower was just a shell, with no services, no easy access, and no planning permissions. What followed was a decade-long conversion that turned the industrial relic into a one-of-a-kind six-bedroom, five-bathroom residence with just over 4,000 square feet of living space.
More from Robb Report
The transformation, completed in 2017 by Essex-based firm Abacus Build, carefully balances historic and contemporary elements. The original iron pillars and exposed bits of red brick remain intact, but they're now paired with modern comforts like underfloor heating, bookmatched marble bathrooms, and custom-built cabinetry.
RELATED: This $21 Million Converted Firehouse in N.Y.C.'s West Village Has a Jazz Club in the Basement
The top-floor studio space includes a kitchenette and open views over the landscape.
The eat-in kitchen is a standout space, with handmade granite worktops on teal Shaker-style cabinets, a full suite of integrated appliances, and a 10-person dining table fashioned from a section of the original water tank, which was crafted by the same engineering firm behind artist Maggi Hambling's " Scallop " sculpture nearby.
Despite its vertical layout, the design is surprisingly livable: two en suite bedrooms sit on the ground floor, while both an oak staircase and an elevator connect the upper levels. There's a formal drawing room on the second floor, a top-floor studio with a kitchenette, and finally, on the uppermost level, a glazed pavilion with sliding glass doors that spill onto the rooftop terrace that overlooks the sea, the River Alde, and the rooftops of Aldeburgh.
RELATED: How a Former Hollywood Exec Turned a Derelict Italian Villa Into a Stunning Home
The spacious eat-in kitchen showcases a custom dining table crafted from the tower's original water tank.
"The history runs through the redbrick walls and iron pillars," said Borno's daughter, Zahra Akkerhuys. "Sitting at the top of the tower watching the sunset—far above the treetops—is really magical."
Now on the market with Savills for £2.75 million (about $3.7 million ), the Water Tower joins an intriguing list of industrial structures that have been reimagined as high-design homes. To wit: eight defunct grain silos in North Yorkshire that were transformed into a sleek, $5.7 million solar-powered country retreat. Whether municipal or agricultural, these types of adaptive reuse projects are proving that with enough vision—and the patience to go through the planning approvals—no building is too utilitarian to become a striking residence.
Click here to see more photos of English home.
Best of Robb Report
Sign up for RobbReports's Newsletter . For the latest news, follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .
