Hove House | AR Design Studio

The scheme replaces an existing bungalow and garage on the steeply sloping site, providing a contemporary five bedroom dwelling that responds to the client’s requirements and challenges offered by the site constraints.

The suburban site to the north of Brighton offered long distance views over the city towards the English Channel as well as the local rolling hills of the South Downs. These varied views and the natural topography of the site formed the basis for the design.

The proposed dwelling is spread over four clearly defined floors, with each stepping back from the one below to follow the existing terrain. The ground floor is defined as a brick wall cut back into the hillside, creating a forecourt and clearly defining the entrance to the house. The three floors above are staggered and stepped apart from one another in order to dilute the visual mass of the dwelling and provide external space at each. Each is presented as a frame to the view, giving a lightweight appearance to the house.

The existing bungalow is located half way up the slope of the site, accessed from a long run of steps up from street level where the current garage is located. One of the primary aims for the project was to improve upon this access and street frontage, bringing the entrance to the property down onto the street and creating an inviting approach to the house. The primary living spaces are located on the upper floors for the house to take advantage of the expansive views, so to resolve the disconnect between the two the team at AR Design Studio proposed a central staircase that would create a direct route from the front door up the site into the main living spaces. This circulation would drive the layout of each floor of the house and provides a line of sight between the key spaces of the house, giving a natural sense of orientation to the occupants.

The majority of the bedrooms are located at first floor off this central staircase, with each room spilling out onto the garden at this floor. The third floor of the house, above the open plan living space, is dedicated to hosting the master suite. Each floor opens out onto its own enclosed balcony space, taking advantage of the views and space created by the stepped form. With site being enclosed of three sides, the house is designed to be a single room deep where possible. Glazing is focused towards the east and the stepped form of the house allows spaces to be top lit at every opportunity.