Kit Martin

Kit Martin CBE is a British architectural designer and country house property developer. He is the son of Sir Leslie Martin, Professor of Architecture at the University of Cambridge.
Since the 1970s, Kit Martin has specialised in the saving and restoration of country houses, by dividing them into smaller dwellings and apartments. He is an advisor to the Prince of Wales on the safeguarding of major historic buildings and remains an advisor to The Prince's Regeneration Trust, a trustee of Save Europe's Heritage, and a former member of the Historic Buildings Council for Scotland.
Martin has restored and converted around twelve houses, eight in England and four in Scotland, as well as other types of historic building. He has used the company name Kit Martin Limited since 1974, and Historic Houses Rescue Limited from 1996. From 2004 to 2007 Martin was an advisor to Save Britain's Heritage on the proposed purchase of Dumfries House in Scotland. At his home, Gunton Park, Martin also restored the historic designed landscape, winning the Country Life Genius of the Place Award for 2007.
Martin was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2012 Birthday Honours for services to conservation.

Projects

Kit Martin's country house developments include :
England

Gunton Hall, Gunton Park, Norfolk, 1980, estate into 20 dwellings, one becoming Martin's own home; new boathouse in 2004
, Bedfordshire, 1981–82, into 8 houses and 4 apartments
, Northamptonshire, early 1980s, into 7 houses and 3 apartments
Callaly Castle, Northumberland, 1986–87
Burley House, Rutland, 1993–98, into 6 apartments, estate into 22 dwellings
Stoneleigh Abbey, Warwickshire, 1996–2000, estate into 53 dwellings
Maristow House, Devon, 1996–2000

Note: Ecton Hall in Northamptonshire, converted by Hertfordshire building company Period Property Investments Plc in 1986–89 into 12 apartments, may have involved Martin, but this is unconfirmed.
Scotland

Cullen House, Aberdeenshire, 1983, into 6 houses, estate into 14 dwellings
, Aberdeenshire, 1984–86
Tyninghame House, East Lothian, 1987–89
Formakin House, Renfrewshire, 1988–99, estate converted into 17 dwellings

Other projects include:

, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, 1996–97

Books

with Marcus Binney, Save Britain's Heritage,,.
with Marcus Binney, Save Britain's Heritage,,.