Boxwood

Boxwood is a low energy house, set within a clearing in ancient woodland near Rye in East Sussex, clad in a locally sourced Sweet Chestnut rain-screen. The building is designed to have a discreet presence, nestling quietly into to its surroundings as much as possible. Its appearance is intended to mimic the simplicity of a traditional bird box.

Planning constraints dictated that the volume and shape of the house had to replicate the double garage it replaced, although the roof pitch was changed slightly to give it a more solid, geometrical shape. The roof timbers and slates were salvaged from the original building.

The building is cut 1200mm into the ground, a move that results in a spacious open plan living/dining /kitchen and utility room at the upper level with three bedrooms and two bathrooms below.

The house is highly insulated and utilises a low energy Air Source Heat Pump to provide hot water and under-floor heating.