The Sea House, Camber Sands, East Sussex

This arresting four-bedroom house is set directly on the sandy dunes and beaches of Camber Sands, held as one of the country's best beaches. Immaculately realised interiors span three levels, where uninterrupted views of the coastline are framed by large-format, slim-framed glazing. Gardens bookend the house, and there is a spacious separate studio apt for various uses. The popular town of Rye and its rail station are a 14-minute drive away, providing a direct route to central London in just over an hour.



The Architect



This exceptional home was one of the first designed by the award-winning RX Architects. Following completion of construction in 2019, the house won the Sunday Times British Homes Award and also a design award from the Sussex Heritage Trust.



The design is driven by the building's relationship with its coastal site; glazing frames views out to sea and, on a clear day, as far as France. A material palette was chosen to best complement the ever-changing skies, and the sculptural exterior is clad in ethereal silvered cedar reminiscent of driftwood. Due to the exposed nature of the site, sourcing high-quality materials (and installing them with the highly-skilled craftspeople) was paramount.



Environmental Performance



Sustainable principles were at the fore both in construction and design. The Suttons has a ground-source heat pump, solar panels and a fresh air circulating system. It was constructed using natural materials, including cedar and in-situ shuttered concrete. In key locations, timber and steel louvres and brise soleil provide privacy and shading. Local builders, craftsmen and suppliers were used to achieve a low carbon footprint.



The house benefits from an air-cooling system that moderates the temperature throughout the year.



The Tour



A striking combination of cedar wood, geometric lines and steel window frames form the exterior of the house. Even from the front door, fixed glazing frames views through the ground floor and out to the beach beyond. Considering the location, all of the German-manufactured windows are triple-glazed.



On entry, a light-filled entrance hall, with space for coats and jackets, leads to an expansive open-plan living, dining and kitchen area, where vast glass sliding doors provide views of the shoreline. Exposed pine beams, lightened with a white pigment oil, run overhead and Italian concrete tiles run underfoot. An integrated log burner in the living space is perfect for hunkering down after a brisk coastal stroll. At one end, a washed-pine pocket door allows the spaces to be closed off, if required.



The kitchen is fitted with Gaggenau and Miele kitchen appliances, a Quooker tap and a bank of deep peacock-blue units. The ground floor is also home to a snug (ideal for retreating to in inclement weather) and a wet-room. The whole house has been fitted with a hard-wired, app-controlled combined audio and tv system, with multiple TV points and inset speakers throughout.



A dramatic oak, cedar and polished steel staircase ascends to the first floor where three bedrooms, all finished in neutral shades, are found. One of the bedrooms shares a glass-fronted balcony with an adjacent sitting room. This room has an en suite shower room and a glazed corner window, orientated to take in views along the coastline and morning light. A convenient utility room and a spacious family bathroom are also sited on this floor.



The principal bedroom occupies the entire top floor, and has access to a spectacular tiered roof terrace, complete with a fire pit and roof garden. Extending from the room are a bespoke dressing area and an en suite with a walk-in shower.



Adjacent to the house is a separate studio, set in a deceptively simple gable ended form. Gutters have been hidden and glazing set flush to elevate the crisp, graphic facade. Inside is a double-height vaulted space where steps lead up to a mezzanine sleeping area, and three cleverly positioned skylights let the natural light pour in. A bathroom completes the plan.



Outdoor Space



To the front of the house is a courtyard tucked behind an automated timber gate. Large-format stone flags have been set into the gravel, and hardy palms and grasses provide a tropical feel. An outdoor shower is in one corner, well placed for after a sea swim. There is a garage and plant room, and sheltered space to store firewood.



The rear garden runs uninterrupted into the shingle beach. Cleverly designed landscaping subtly breaks up the space, creating a variety of zones. Particular attention has been paid to the planting, using both durable and architectural plants. Sea grass, sea kale and buckthorn mingle with the Corten steel and local stone used to delineate beds.



The top floor also has a tiered roof terrace, and two rooms on the first floor have access to a balcony - all with mesmerising views of the sea.



The Area



The house sits directly on the sandy beaches and dunes of Camber Sands, an impressive five-mile stretch of unspoilt sandy beach located in East Sussex, close to the border with Kent. It has one of the purest and longest dune systems on the south coast, and the only one to be found in East Sussex.



Camber sits on the edge of Romney Marsh, dubbed 'The Fifth Continent' by 19th-century author Thomas Ingoldsby for its natural beauty, diverse habitats, extensive coastline and rich history. In the immediate area is the famous Rye Golf Club links course and Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, which lies within a large triangle of land extending south from Rye, along the River Rother, past Rye Harbour to the sea, westward to Winchelsea Beach and northwards along the River Brede. Camber Sands and Greatstone are also considered to be among the best and most popular kite and windsurfing beaches on the south and east coasts.



A few minutes’ drive away is the excellent Gallivant, a well-regarded dune-side restaurant with a bar, beach huts and rooms. Camber Landing is an 11-minute walk from the house, and offers superb coffee, beer and cocktails, plus a deli.



The historic town of Rye is approximately five miles away, and has a wide range of local shops, pubs and restaurants. It can also be accessed via an off-road cycle route from Camber, taking around 20 minutes; we've written more about Rye in our Journal. The popular towns of Tenterden and Hastings are also within easy driving distance.



The nearest rail station is Rye, with services to London St Pancras taking just over an hour.



Council Tax Band: G