Caburn Crescent is located on the outskirts of Lewes, East Sussex and within the South Downs National Park. When our clients acquired the property it was in a very poor state of repair and required full renovation. The homeowners put their trust in us to guide them through the process.
On the ground floor, the front reception room was retained but new sliding pocket doors were introduced to connect the space to the kitchen / dining space at the rear. At the rear of the house, a very cramped kitchen and dining room was completely opened up and extended into the rear garden. The ground floor rear extension features large sliding doors to connect to a sunken courtyard garden. The extension adopts an asymmetric pitched roof form which allows the eaves level to meet the height of the existing garage. This pitched roof also allows for solar panels and pitched roof lights to flood the space with natural daylight.
On the first floor, both bedrooms are fully refurbished as is the family bathroom and the office. A new staircase provides access to a new loft conversion.
The new loft conversion provides a master suite, complete with ensuite shower room. The suite is duel aspect with views to the front and rear of the house. To the front, large rooflights provide views over the South Downs National Park. To the rear, a new dormer window incorporates a juliette balcony with more private views over the garden.
Both extensions are clad in the same standing seam zinc cladding.
As part of the project the clients were keen to increase the thermal performance of the building as well as introduce sustainable energy solutions. We adopted a ‘fabric first’ approach, insulating the ground floor, walls and roof. Solar panels provided sustainable electricity while an air source heat pump provided heating and hot water.
“Mathew Crawford Architects have given a highly professional service helping us through the complexity of design and concept but also the kafkaesque world of planning permission in the National Park”