travelling-blogger

comments

It's not a typical-looking holiday home - but it hasn't been designed by a typical developer.

What could soon be named Britain's most bizarre accommodation is nearing completion, and will offer tourists a place to lay their heads in Essex. 

On the banks of the River Stour, Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry is putting the finishing touches to his green and gold gingerbread home, which has drawn mixed reactions from locals. 

Scroll down for video 

Unusual design: Grayson will also be responsible for designing the interior of the two-bedroomed home

The cottage tells the story of a mythical woman named Julie, whose statute sits atop the house (pictured right)

Britain's most bizarre holiday cottage? A green and gold gingerbread home is nearing completion in Essex

When the Essex cross-dressing artist unrelieved the plans some residents in the rural village of Wrabness thought it was some kind of strange prank.

But two years on and builders have nearly completed Perry's vision which will soon be able to be rented out. Perry hopes 'to introduce holidaymakers to the joys of avant-garde housing'.

A small traditional pebble-dash farm house used to sit on the land, but was demolished - against the wishes of the parish council - and replaced with the imposing structure complete with its golden roof and green and white tiles.

Grayson said his cottage tells the story of a mythical Essex woman called Julie and her difficult childhood, young love and career.

But he admitted his creation his initial design was conceptualised by 'doodling wildly and quite drunkenly in front of the television'.

The house is located on the banks of the River Stour, near the rural village of Wrabness

The home's green and white ceramic tiles, which feature safety pins, can be seen for miles

Perry admits that he first came up with the design whilst 'doodling wildly and quite drunkenly in front of the TV'

The finished work, which can be seen from miles around, includes ceramic tiles featuring safety pins, hearts, and even a statute of 'Julie' standing proudly on top.

Some people in the town have begun to warm up to the avant-garde creation and have spoken in favour of the cottage, hoping it will bring tourists to the area.

But one Wrabness resident, who asked not to be named, told East News: 'We're a tiny village in Essex and people come here for peace and quiet and to enjoy the views over the river.

'Every time I look at that house I am left wondering how on earth it got planning permission.

'People will come and visit from London on a weekend and have a very amusing tale to tell at dinner parties but they won't have to look at it day in and day out and wonder if they are victims of a twisted practical joke.'

Before: A pebble-stone farmhouse initially stood on the land. However, some residents are still unhappy that the more traditional structure was torn down

Local residents in favour of Grayson Perry's creation hope that it will bring tourists to the area

The Turner Prize-winning, cross-dressing artist is known primarily for his work with ceramics 

Speaking previously about the home, Perry said: 'I have a deep fondness for Essex and I am happy to invest a large chunk of my time to a project I feel will add greatly to the cultural standing of the area.

'I wanted the building to reflect different aspects of the county, with its traditional side and with a hint of its more recent history.

'It is not a large structure and it does not seek to dominate its surroundings, but is to be discovered, with what I hope will be delight, by any of the many passers-by along the footpath.'

Grayson Perry explores who we are in new Channel 4 show

Although the parish council denied the plans for the re-build, a second application was eventually approved

Perry has said that he hopes and believes that the cottage 'will add greatly to the cultural standing of the area'

The Wrabness Parish Council strongly objected to the proposal to knock down the existing farmhouse and replace it with this new structure that combines sculptures, tapestries and ceramics.

The original plans for the home were turned down by Tendring District Council.

But the re-submitted application for the wacky home was given the green-light by planners. 

Barry Shaw, formerly director of the Essex Design initiative, hailed the work, saying its design 'makes it stand out as a rare contribution to the culture of place.'