Sensitive alterations have also been carried out during a full refurbishment to address a number of 20^thcentury interventions and create a bright family home.

Roof repairs were carried out initially to ensure that the building remained weathertight, followed by internal repairs and alterations.  The brief requested the addition of a kitchen and family room that overlooked the undulating mature landscape, while the remainder of the house was carefully repaired and reconfigured to suit a modern family home.

The existing concrete floors and footprint of the extension were carefully excavated by the archaeologist and a new Limecrete breathable floor build-up was introduced with underfloor heating to the ground floor.  The existing plasterboard ceilings and vaulted skeilings were removed and modern, non-breathable materials replaced with breathable materials such as sheep wools, wood fibre insulation and boards with a lime plastered finish throughout.

The repairs and alterations were carried out sympathetically to the building’s significance using traditional materials and methods, while also improving the building’s thermal performance and without compromising its breathability.

The works incorporated external landscaping in the form of a decorative stone retaining wall with steps up onto higher level terraced areas of the garden.

The project was a winner at the Sussex Heritage Trust Awards 2025 in the ‘Small Scale Residential: Restoration, Conversion and Extension’ category.

Our clients returned to us in 2018 with a brief to carry out further alterations and extensions to the main house, to bring this area of the house in line with the design style of the previous extension.

The proposal sought a perpendicular extension to the main house, complementing the previous extension, as well as single storey front extension.  This provides a spacious formal entrance hall and also facilitated the internal reconfiguration of the ground and first floor spaces, improving spatial proportions and rearranging them to improve flow.

The later works followed the previous contemporary style using flat zinc roofs with deep eaves and exposed rafter feet, horizontal boarding with shadow gap detailing, and a first floor deep reveal balcony off the vaulted master bedroom. In addition, the use of sliding/folding doors now allow the kitchen, dining and living rooms to connect to the stunning outdoor space.

More recently a contemporary, octagonal extension was designed to create additional family space, alongside internal alterations and conservation repair of the historic fabric, and successfully obtained planning and listed building consent.  Construction was completed in 2019.

The project won a local authority conservation area design award as well as the regional local authority building control award for Best Domestic Alteration or Extension and a highly commended certificate for Best Conversion and Best Sustainable Project in the regional awards.

The proposal adopted a contemporary industrial approach, while leaving the historic structure on view following a scope of conservation repair. The main space was largely left as an open barn, with the existing outshots providing the additional bedroom and bathrooms.

Insensitive modern alterations were removed whilst carefully considered contemporary additions were introduced and conservation repairs carried out to enhance and protect the building’s heritage. Works included bespoke staircases, a contemporary roof structure and new finishes to floors and ceilings throughout.

The mechanical and electrical services were also fully overhauled and a new lighting scheme introduced throughout.