South Cliff is located on a steeply sloping site in Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex, overlooking the south coast. Our clients tasked us with designing a house that made the most of the sloping site and views over the sea, whilst creating a robust home in all weather conditions in the harsh coastal environment.
The plan layout is spread out across two floors, with all the main living and entertaining spaces at ground floor level. The design carefully considers the transition from street level, through the property to the rear, where the stepped external terraces then stagger down the slope, providing additional external entertaining spaces, with various areas designed for sun, shade and shelter. Native coastal planting has been designed weaving down the sloping garden between the stepped terraces to help bed both the building and terraces into the sloped edge, but providing colour and interest throughout the garden areas.
The large south facing cantilever of the first floor allows cover to the raised external terrace, whilst also providing solar shading to the glazed southern elevation. Timber slatted screens have been designed to provide privacy, breaks from the wind, and to focus the view out to the beach and bay beyond. At the lowest terrace is a sunken seating area, with a private staircase leading down directly to the beach.
The design blends a muted pallet of materials, a light, off white brick and matching mortar were selected, with the masonry providing a robust finish in the coastal conditions. The lighter tone reflects light and this is then combined with red grandis timber cladding which has been treated with siOO:X, providing protection to the timber whilst naturally lightening the colour with a pre weathered finish evenly and consistently. The horizontal datum bands are detailed in a natural render with Keim lime paint finish, so give the exterior a natural light tone.
To the front of the property is a large beach store, which also contains the plant equipment. The house is heated and cooled via an Air Source Heat pump, with a solar array on the main flat roof, benefiting from the sites elevated south facing position. Battery storage is located in the beach store, along with an MVHR system to passively deliver the required air flow through the property.
Internally the entrance hallway gives double height space with top light form above, and an open treat bespoke stair. The main open plan kitchen, dining and living space face the sea with stunning views and glazing opening onto the terrace. There is a double sided glazed fire place, which links through to the more formal living area – but allows flexibility for hosting larger parties as well as to be more closed off for smaller gatherings.
On then northern side of the plan there is a cinema room and snug, along with ground floor sauna and shower area. On the first floor there are 4 double bedrooms, all have been arranged to have sea views, with en suite bathrooms. There are also 2 separate study spaces to provide the owners with the working space they require. A large balcony spans across the rear elevation with views over the coast, the balcony is recessed to give cover and protection from the elements and provide solar shading to the bedrooms.
The primary design ambition was to create a house that can perform as a comfortable family home, as well as give flexibility for hosting friends and larger parties at the beach. The combination of external and internal spaces have been developed to feel both expansive, captailise on the fantastic sea views, but also allow for some intimacy in creating pockets of space that feel comfortable throughout the seasons.
Project TypeResidentialLocationBexhill-on-Sea, East SussexPhotographerJames Tarry
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