The Mile House

by Meloy Architecture and Design

Client Private

Awards RIBA South East Award 2024 and RIBA South East Client of the Year 2024.

The Mile House stands in the West Sussex village of Amberley, within the South Downs National Park. From its elevated position, it overlooks the Amberley Wildbrooks nature reserve – a seasonally changing floodplain that provides habitat to abundant birdlife and deer. A previous house was demolished to rebuild this more sustainable home to Passivhaus standards.

The architect was selected because of his own sustainable house, and there is clearly a respectful bond between him and the client. He has arranged the new house as a collection of three wings, all positioned and oriented to maximise views from them while avoiding a negative impact on neighbours’ views. Externally, a restrained palette of materials responds to both the modern buildings in the immediate vicinity and the historic village centre.

Contractor Novala Ltd

Environmental / M&E Engineer Alan Clarke

Structural Engineer Simon Bastone Associates

Planning Consultant Dowsett Mayhew Planning Partnership

Passivhaus Certifier MEAD Consulting

Gross internal area in m² 273.9