Shire End West

by rak architecture

Client Aland Dodkins and Suzy Galina

Awards RIBA South West and Wessex Award 2025 and RIBA South West and Wessex Small Project of the Year 2025

The award winner tells us, "Shire End West by rak architecture involves works and additions to an existing Grade II listed three bedroom home, perched high up on the Lyme Regis hillside, in a prominent position, with far reaching views of the historic Cobb Harbour and Golden Cap on the south west coast of England.

Alan and Suzy’s brief was "to fix all the problems with our quirky old house without losing its magic, so that we would feel joy every time we arrived home!" This required a careful process of removal of later additions to declutter the original house and replace a tired existing extension, as well as look for ways to improve the energy performance of the original building, preserving the architectural features."

Extract from the RIBA Awards Jury citation, "The Grade II listed, mid-19th-century end-of-terrace property has been simply but beautifully restored and re-presented, in a unique collaboration between the architects and their creative clients. Within that existing property, a carefully considered new stair unlocks a natural reconfiguration of vertical circulation to provide much-improved access to the beautifully proportioned rooms of the upper floors."

Read the full citation from the RIBA Awards Jury on RIBA Journal

Contractor Joe Mew Development

Gross internal area 240m²