The site is located high up on a steeply sloping site with wonderful views south towards Charmouth beach and east towards Golden Cap and the Marshwood Vale.
The replacement dwelling is designed around a split section, where the building is built into the hillside, presenting a contextual ‘bungalow' scale to the street and then opening up to the southerly views at the rear.
The material selection of a handmade white brick and low stone walls reflects the local vernacular, where you see many lime-washed stucco houses with gardens edged in undulating dry stone walls.
The restrained introduction of Corten introduces a warm contrast to the white brick as well as making a subtle reference to weathered coastal structures.
The building form and design also incorporates a number of passive and active sustainable strategies which will significantly reduce energy use.
Corsairs- Charmouth
rak architecture were appointed to replace the existing 1950s bungalow on the site with a sustainable low energy family home. The client brief was for a 'textural coastal home,' capable of creating a series of warm and cosy spaces, which enjoy the incredible panoramic views to the south and east.
The design approach takes the form of an upside-down house with the main open-plan living space located on the first floor, where the views are the most exceptional.
Adjacent to the main volume of the house is a generous east-facing linear terrace, spanning from front to back, which links the upper living spaces to the rear garden as well as creating an excellent sunny, external, relaxing and entertaining space that enjoys the wonderful views over rooftops.
The asymmetric pitched form of the house responds to neighbouring buildings and wider views, and the proposed mix of handmade red brick and natural silver cedar shingle cladding draws from both the local Charmouth vernacular and the idea of a contemporary rustic coastal home.
Second floor plan
First floor plan
Ground floor plan
Section
First floor plan
Ground floor
Section
First floor
Second floor