Hampshire based architectural practice AR Design Studio have been awarded a prestigious RIBA Downland Award for Lighthouse65, a luxury coastal private house.
Andy Ramus and his team were briefed to deliver an exemplary 3 bedroom beachfront property that would sit beautifully in its waterside location of Hill Head enjoying the stunning views of the Solent and the Isle of Wight.
The Royal Institute of Architects Downland Award has been awarded annually to esteemed architects based in the South and South East region. The recipients are those who best demonstrate the benefits of using an architect's services. It celebrates the added value that an architect brings to a relatively small projects under £1.5 million, and the ‘chemistry’ between architects, clients, contractors and suppliers of successful buildings.
The Lighthouse 65 concept, whilst taking inspiration from traditional beach pavilions such as the De La Warr in Bexhill, was to maximize the building's width, so every key room enjoys expansive views. All bathrooms and utility spaces run at the rear of the property, allowing the view to be continuous for all ‘living’ spaces. The house sits 7 metres below road level with the roof acting as a parking deck for 3 cars. Visually the roof and floor decks are hung from the central concrete core, terminating in large cantilevers that provide shade and open-air shelter to the ground floor.
An illuminated frameless glass cube sits at the top of the concrete core, that whilst providing access, lights up triggered via a barometer giving the building its name; “lighthouse 65”. At night the lit glass glows to indicate local weather conditions: green when weather is fair and red when atmospheric pressure drops, warning passing yachtsmen of possible stormy conditions.
Now with studios in Winchester and Bournemouth, AR Design Studio is a young and contemporary architectural practice, delivering elegant and functional solutions for modern living. Their portfolio includes several one-off houses and a range of commercial refurbishments and new builds schemes.
Established in 2001 the team has previously been shortlisted for a RIBA Downland award and won The Daily Telegraph Small House of the Year. Andy Ramus was also shortlisted for Young Architect of the Year.
For more information on this project and to view additional projects by AR Design Studio please visit www.ardesignstudio.co.uk
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