Overview
Located in the Cinque Port of Rye, East Sussex, this 1960’s original architect designed house had fallen into disrepair and also required extending to accommodate a growing family.
Various proposals were put forward by DLSM, including extensions along the frontage which would double the house volume. The final design is a modest roof extension and opening up of the rear elevation to provide commanding elevated views across the Romney Marshes. The building is brick cavity constructed at ground floor level and timber framed at first floor and roof levels. Internally, the ground floor spaces were opened up to provide better interior circulation and all building services were upgraded with Smart technologies included.
Design
The original house was design by FRIBA Architect Fraser McManus and we were mindful to respect the original character of the building with proposed new additions. Whilst most of the original building was stripped back to a shell state, it was important from a conservation perspective to be sympathetic to the original building, which included an unusual blackened brick and traditional painted weather boarding.
A number of daylight orientated design decisions were introduced, which included opening Juliette balconies at first floor level to the rear and a 5m run of bi folding glass doors to the living room. A frameless glass rooflight was introduced over the new kitchen area and various skylights were placed into the roofscape to drop valuable daylight into deeper areas of the dwelling footprint. Special details were developed for the building including a number of secret gutters which allowed the eave lines to be visually uncluttered.