The owners of the Brighton House (a busy retired couple) sold their family home and purchased a smaller house with the aim of simplifying life. Their priorities were clear: spending more time with family, friends and doing the things they love with less time to be spent on housework and maintenance.
From the outset they made a clear minded decision that there was no need for multiple bedrooms, formal rooms or a lawn to mow. Instead they favoured generous sized rooms, good storage, and a space for them each to have a desk.
The original house was highly compartmentalised and had a poor connection to its north facing back garden. The design reworked the back of the original house by consolidating several rooms, opened the rear elevation to the garden and added a smaller ‘service block’ to the side. The service block accommodates a laundry, walk in pantry and study contains the detritus of day to day life keeping the rest of the house clear of clutter. A central courtyard was introduced into the design to enable dual aspects for the new study and living room and aid in cross ventilation.
