ECO CONSCIOUS
Not even unyielding rock could stop this wooden-clad self-build rising from the ground to become a beautiful modern home in the country
Modern self-build in Hastings
Both working as freelancers, Steve and Bronwen had reached a stage in their careers when they no longer needed to be in London and were keen to move to the country. They spent a year compiling an image portfolio of houses they liked, while at the same time looking for a plot they could build on – somewhere quiet but close to amenities, which could accommodate the open-plan, spacious home they wanted. ‘A recurring exterior image that excited us was a simple timber-clad boathouse, so that became our starting point,’ explains Steve.
‘We were on the books of about 120 estate agents stretching from Hampshire to Kent. Our stipulation was having good access to London and also to Littlehampton in Sussex and Hindhead in Surrey, where our parents live. This plot near Hastings came up and was bigger than anything else we’d seen, and although it wasn’t ideally placed, by that time we’d been looking for a year and were beginning to think we’d never find anywhere, so we went for it,’ he laughs.
To get the ball rolling, the couple interviewed three potential builders before settling on
Chalmers and Co. ‘We looked at a few properties that the company had built, and all of them were complex, which reassured us. Also, we liked him instantly, so it was an easy decision to use him,’ says Steve. Working collaboratively, the couple navigated the local planning department, which approved of their innovative design and the property’s strong eco performance – so they were finally set to go.
By July 2012, they were on site, but soon encountered an obstacle. ‘There were thick seams of sandstone that were struck at seven metres, delaying the build. Thankfully, we were still living in our London home, so missed the worst of the disruption,’ admits Bronwen.
And their troubles didn’t end there. ‘The build cost more than we’d budgeted for, so we needed to sell our London house to finish the project. We also hit a problem with the spoil disposal, so had a re-think, swiftly abandoning the idea of a wraparound terrace, while the south-facing pergola has become a micro vineyard,’ says Steve.
Steve began making weekly trips to oversee the painfully slow progress. ‘We had long delays through 2012-13, one of the wettest winters on
record, and we also lost half the concrete team to another job, which was frustrating. But when the roof went on in September 2014, it was a high point, literally,’ he says, remembering how their self-sufficient home was beginning to take shape.
‘The house is crammed with eco credentials,’ says Steve. ‘The south-facing roof-line is entirely solar, generating about 14kW per hour when sunny. There’s a 9kW solar thermal system heating the domestic hot water, which then diverts to heat the swimming pool. A groundsource heat pump powers underfloor heating and a woodburner keeps the house extra toasty in the winter, helped by triple glazing and efficient insulation. We also harvest the rainwater and there’s passive solar gain when it’s sunny in winter.
‘The money we receive from the government for generating electricity via solar panels covers all our utility bills and we’re planning battery storage once we get a smart meter to collate usage data. We even bought an electric car to fully utilise all that generated power,’ he continues.
‘In November 2015, a full year after the roof went on, we eventually moved in, and finally we were able to start making it feel like home. With regard to the interiors, the house is quite a statement in itself. We didn’t want to detract from the beautiful timber cladding and minimalist lines, so there are no skirting boards or architraves. The walls are the perfect backdrop for displaying our art collection, and my studio is the natural home for the artefacts we’ve found on our travels. We already had some of the furniture and bought more once we were living here, including statement chairs and lighting.’
‘It’s not the kind of house that needs a lot of soft furnishings and accessories,’ says Bronwen. ‘With our friend, the carpenter and joiner Matthew Smith, we concentrated on the fitted furniture to make sure it’s absolutely perfect.’
So, despite the multiple challenges, Steve and Bronwen made good their escape to the country. ‘It’s been an epic project, but it’s a wonderful space to share – friends love it, especially when we’re able to raise a glass of wine from our own vines! We’ve always lived in interesting houses; we just wanted to go a step further and create one!’ says Bronwen.
For more information on the house, visit beachstudios.co.uk and lightlocations.com