DOMstudio
Award-winning interior architect Marta Nowicka at DOMstay has designed a new studio for her home in E.Sussex.
The studio mirrors the seawall’s parabolic curve, blending seamlessly with the landscape. “The sloping wall doubles as a sunbathing backrest and windbreak for 80 mph gusts. Its low height invites people to walk on it, like a boat,” says Marta. Built on a 43-square-meter plot, the studio is entirely made from recycled materials. Hollow concrete blocks from leftover sites create a contrast in brick colors, while repurposed driveway pebbles insulate the roof. An 8-meter-long I-beam supports the sloping roof, clad in recycled scaffolding boards, also used for shelving and architraves. Savolit Wood Wool Boards, a natural plasterboard alternative, provide acoustic and insulation benefits. The angled structure forms a natural curve, requiring scaffold boards to be planed for flexibility, resembling a boat’s bow. Inside, archival storage lines the straight wall, complemented by a wood burner for warmth. The space leads to an infrared sauna clad in reclaimed cedarwood and a small wet room with an electric shower. A horizontal window frames panoramic views of Dungeness, while Velux windows enhance the space with changing toplight.
Data
- Begun: Sep 2023
- Completed: Mar 2024
- Floor area: 43m2
- Sector: Residential
- Total cost: £45,000
- Funding: Self funded
- Procurement: N/A
- Address: Lydd Rd, Jurys Gap, Rye , TN31 7SG, United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: DOMstay
- Client: DOMstay
- Town & Country Planning Solutions Ltd: Jonny Pickup
- Main contractor: Arter & Co Construction Ltd
- Sauna: Clearlight
- Windows: Velux
Suppliers
- Design Assistants : Jon Zhus, Anna Plotnikova