The design of a replacement house in the South Downs National Park requires a great deal of thought and sensitivity. This five bedroom new house in South Downs has adopted its downland setting in an unassuming manner, settling into the landscape as though it had always been there.
Traditional forms of Sussex domestic architecture have been drawn together in a careful composition to create a subtle design with understated contemporary detailing. Flintwork, handmade brick and a green oak structure, materials with centuries of local precedent, are brought together under a natural slate roof. It is the sort of palette that our team of Sussex architects have long understood. It is a palette that rewards patience: each element weathering gently into the next as the house matures.
A comprehensive hard and soft landscaping scheme is a central component of the design, creating a series of sheltered sun traps and optimising views across the Downs, all whilst softening the impact of the building through a series of outdoor rooms that extend the life of the house into the garden throughout the seasons.
