Burwash | Stephen Davy Peter Smith Architects

Client's brief Our client’s brief included: creating a Summer room which takes full advantage of the incredible location, improving the kitchen by increasing the area of work surface, and improving the outlook to the patio located in the junction of the two wings, exploring inserting a swimming pool, linked to the house. Our client’s home is located in the picturesque village of Burwash, East Sussex. It lies within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has spectacular views across a valley. The house originally comprised two separate buildings; an oast house and a perpendicular wing built circa 1900. They are constructed from red brick and tile, a traditional local vernacular style. The two separate entrances are still evident; the oast house entrance, leading into the dining space adjacent to the kitchen, was preferred by the client. The house also included two small lounge spaces, one in a rotunda off the oast house, and another adjacent to the entrance of the Victorian house, neither were satisfactory. We used the brief as an opportunity to bring various elements of the house together; positioning the extension (and swimming pool) at the end of the Victorian buildings, taking advantage of the views, and linking the existing activities. The scheme was extremely well received by the client, who was living on site throughout a large part of the works. Our approach We extended and remodel this historic building in a sensitive manner, creating bright spacious rooms, which respect the character of the existing. The new, pitched roof is constructed with local materials, principally reclaimed peg tiles and brick. However, modern detailing incorporating hidden gutters and roof slope glazing, delivers a subtlety contemporary extension. Internally this creates a large and open modern living space. The extension is flooded with light and the new windows frame the spectacular views across the valley. The large roof slope windows on the southern façade create a dramatic space as they stretch up into the ceiling soffit. We designed large bespoke built-in oak furniture, which makes great use of the interior spaces; it incorporates storage, display shelving and small windows – playfully offering glimpses of the garden at different levels. A large woodburning stove provides a focal point in the sunroom and usefully supplements the underfloor heating throughout. A new folding panel screen between the existing living room and new sunroom allows the spaces to be separated into more intimate areas, or be left open as a single large space. The garden and landscape beyond can be enjoyed from the new patio and terrace, and the sunroom opens up to the outside with large folding doors. Planning constraints A sunken swimming pool adjacent to the new extension formed part of the planning application scheme. The client decided not to progress the pool, although it can still be added at a later date and accessed via the house. Materials and method of construction Where possible local building materials were specified and local builders and craftsmen were employed; a local reclamation yard was used to source suitable materials including roof and wall tiles, and stone paving. The reclaimed tiles give the building a distinctive character, helping it to relate to the local context and knit to this house more immediately. Handmade terracotta tiles were sourced from a local manufacturer and used throughout, as floor tiles in the kitchen and porch, to line the wall behind the woodburner, and in the sunroom to create an attractive patterned floor. Elsewhere materials were selected for their specific qualities; engineered oak floorboards are used in the refurbishment, rather than solid oak boards, because of their performance with the under-floor heating system. The joinery is solid oak and oak veneer to ensure a consistency of grain and a high quality finish. The kitchen was styled to sit comfortably between new and old, successfully integrating traditional details with the cleaner lines of the extension interior.