This improvement and extension project in Lewes involved the renovation of a hilltop residence located within a protected natural landscape. Deacon + Richardson Architects were commissioned to deliver flexible new accommodation that complements the character of the existing property and responds to its striking agricultural setting.

The first phase focused on the refurbishment of the main single-storey home. By removing several internal walls and lifting flat ceilings in the living and kitchen areas, we created a more open and spacious layout. The entire building is to be externally clad in corrugated metal—both to withstand the exposed environment and echo the appearance of traditional agricultural structures in the area.

The second phase proposed converting and modestly extending an adjacent outbuilding to create a self-contained one-bedroom annex. Designed to function independently or as part of the main home, the annex includes a kitchen, bathroom, and large south-east-facing windows to frame stunning countryside views. It is clad in weathering steel to visually distinguish it while maintaining harmony with the main house. As part of our design process we studied the development of the patina the gives the weathering steel its deep orange colour, one study is illustrated in the gallery below.

Planning permission for the work was granted in 2024, and we look forward to progressing this exciting project.