MW Architects were appointed to design a replacement dwelling for an existing house in South Downs National Park in Sussex. As a result of the site being in an area of outstanding natural beauty, within the historic village of Alfriston and surrounded by 3 listed buildings, we had to approach the design process sensitively. We therefore proposed a 3 bedroom house, contrary to a standard house with the living room and kitchen on the first floor in order to extend the views across the surrounding landscape. Externally we took into consideration the surrounding architecture of the local vernacular and included the existing flint wall on the site within the new design.
The rest of the house is constructed from a combination of locally present materials including timber cladding, english red brick, clay tiles and lime render but composed to create a contemporary addition within the village. The design was influenced by the irregular and jarring roof forms of the surrounding buildings and reformed with a modern slant, literally. The roofs change in level has allowed for a glass wall to be inserted, filling the living room with natural light from the south and providing amazing views to the Downs while remaining discreet.
