Seabreeze

by RX Architects

Client Private Client

Awards RIBA South East Award 2022

This project is experimental and delightful – and pink! A unique interpretation of a beach house, it has been designed to withstand the harsh coastal environment while still embracing the light-hearted pleasures of the English seaside.

Located on the East Sussex coast, directly backing onto the natural sand dunes and with outstanding views across the beach and the English Channel to the south, Seabreeze can only be accessed - and could only be built - by driving along the beach. The architects recognised that they would have to design a robust building to cope with the extreme weather conditions, with high winds, moving sand and salt air. They chose a simple shape – an abstraction of the neighbouring buildings, reminiscent of a child’s drawing of a house.

This simplicity is enhanced by the decision to omit gutters and window ledges, all of which act as ledges for sand. Instead, the architects designed the windows to be flush with the external faces of the house – and it is here that the building’s experimental aspects come into play: the building has been externally finished in trowelled micro fibre concrete with a pink pigment, to create a sealed external envelope. They considered the external material selection carefully so that it is robust and strong. However, the pink pigment in the finish softens the visual impact and sets the building off against the dramatic and ever-changing backdrop of the sky and beach – and of course speaks of ice cream and candyfloss.

The festive character continues inside, but here the pleasures of leisure time are taken seriously, with bespoke joinery containing drinks cabinets and kitchen cupboards. Excellent detailing and space planning mean that the small size of the building is focused on harmonising the activities inside with the spectacular setting. A mini spa is nestled at the back of the ground floor, with a timber stair rising to wood-lined bedrooms with commanding views.

Internal area 178.00 m²

Contractor Coast View Property Ltd

Structural Engineers Stephen Evans Associates LLP

Environmental / M&E Engineers Baltic Heating