A Japanese-style home that used to bey owned by Titanic star Kate Winslet and lies minutes from a picturesque beach has gone up for sale.
The ‘delightful’ four-bedroom Pole House in Hayle, Cornwall, is set in landscaped gardens and sits close to St Ives and Penzance.
Winslet bought the property with her then-husband Jim Threapleton in 1998 for £200,000, not long after her Hollywood breakthrough. The couple sold it for £250,000 in 2001 following their split.
It later went back on the market in 2016 for £400,000 and is now listed at £600,000.
Designed by architect Barrie Briscoe, the striking home is built from birch, pine, cedar and American redwood, raised high on Douglas fir stilts.
Modelled on Japanese pole houses – known as Kura – the elevated structure has the look of a modern treehouse.
The property lies in the village of Angarrack, just a short drive from the beaches of St Ives Bay.
The ‘delightful’ four-bedroom house in Hayle, Cornwall is nestled in stunning gardens and is close to St Ives and Penzance
The Pole House, was the star’s bolt hole between 1998 and 2001 when she bought it not long after making her big screen debut in the blockbuster movie, after falling in love with its unusual design
Despite not being owned by the Titanic star anymore, the property still boasts a nautical feel with heavy-duty rope wrapped around the bottom of a pillar in one of the bedrooms
Kate Winslet bought the property with her then-husband Jim Threapleton in 1998 for £200,000
Despite not being owned by the Titanic star anymore, the property still boasts a nautical feel with heavy-duty rope wrapped around the bottom of a pillar in one of the bedrooms.
Architect Barrie Briscoe, 1936-2010, designed and built five Pole Houses in his career, three of which were in Cornwall.
Its listing states: ‘The open-plan main living room features a striking double-height vaulted beam ceiling and the sturdy timber poles central to the home’s design.
‘This spacious area includes a sitting room and a kitchen with a wood-burning stove as a central feature. Toward the rear, there are two bedrooms.
Upstairs, the landing offers an excellent viewpoint overlooking the living space below.
‘The master bedroom occupies the entire first floor, offering a spacious sleeping area, an en-suite bathroom.
‘The lower level, accessible via an external entrance functions as a self-contained apartment, ideal for guests. This space includes an open living area that also serves as a bedroom, and a bathroom featuring a Japanese bath.
‘The main living areas connect to the thoughtfully-designed gardens via a timber bridge at the front, while a staircase at the rear leads to a wide deck that fully encircles the home.’
Rob Pavis, who now owns the property with his wife, Heather, said: ‘We have been custodians of The Pole House for nearly a decade and have enjoyed the home immensely.
Its listing states: ‘The open-plan main living room features a striking double-height vaulted beam ceiling and the sturdy timber poles central to the home’s design’
Upstairs, the landing offers an excellent viewpoint overlooking the living space below
The unique property designed by renowned architect Barrie Briscoe is constructed of birch, pine, cedar and American redwood, atop giant Douglas fir stilts
The Pole House is available for sale by Savills Cornwall for a guide price of £600,000
‘Having lived in a traditional timber-framed house in Japan for a number of years, it was our dream to find a home with similar qualities when we moved back to the UK.
‘We didn’t think for one moment that we would find a Japanese Pole House, not least in our ideal location near St Ives too. We were incredibly lucky.
‘It is a special property in that it is as practical as it is beautiful.
‘The use of natural materials help to regulate temperature, making it really efficient to run, while its simple, symmetrical design that is so thoughtfully connected to its surroundings, provides a tangible sense of harmony and balance, known as fusui in Japanese culture.’
Will Eva, of Savills Cornwall, said: ‘This architecturally significant home is a rare gem, not only is it incredibly beautiful outside and in but its location is impressive too, set within a small and delightful village that is within easy reach of north west Cornwall’s stunning coastline.’
The Pole House is available for sale by Savills Cornwall for a guide price of £600,000.