Replacement Dwelling
Planning Permission Granted Spring 2024
The practice was commissioned to carry out a feasibility study in relation to the redevelopment an existing 1930’s dwelling, in Robin Hoods Bay. Despite the beautiful landscape setting of the existing property, the access into the site and property is poor. The feasibility study concluded that considerable work would be required to overcome the access issues on the site and once complete, the poor building orientation would remain. As such, the decision was made to consider a replacement dwelling on the site.
The topography of the existing site creates a discrete setting for the existing dwelling. A number of extensions have been added to the existing bungalow over the years, and it is this horizontal spread of the building has added to the congested feeling within the site and impeded access.
The design of the replacement dwelling seeks to retain the discrete setting of the building within the landscape, and to exploit the sloping site to provide an additional storey to the building. The more vertical approach allows the provision of the required accommodation whilst reducing the spread of the building on the site.
The simple form of the existing dwelling is retained within the proposed design, and vernacular materials used historically in both the traditional agricultural buildings and the post-war dwellings in the area, are used to provide a new protective envelope.
The proposed dwelling is re-orientated toward the south to benefit from solar heat gain in the winter, and to open up spectacular views of the North Sea to the east. To frame the views, larger openings are sensitively carved out of the building form, combing the contemporary with the traditional to create a new architectural intervention in the landscape.
Renewable energy sources will be combined with a well-insulated shell, to provide a modern, low energy, home.