This design thesis responds to the themes of identity, edge and place-making in the White Cliffs of Dover, the ‘face’ of England, proposing a re-ordering of the landscape, a framework for possible settlement which begins with a vineyard, winery and seasonal worker housing. An initial sketch design investigated the dramatic presence of the cliffs themselves, proposing a ‘last marker’ of England. Researching the evolution of the Bank of England prompted the design of new earthworks giving an order and rhythm to the landscape which can accumulate enclosures over time. Stone walls protect the vines from the prevailing wind and terraces become the plinth for new housing clustered near the winery. These buildings engage simultaneously with the enclosing walls and the distant horizon of the Channel.
