East Wittering, West Sussex

“For surfers, the Boathouse sits directly opposite the main beach break along the Witterings coastline”

Converted by the current architect-owner in 2020 to a spacious two-bedroom house, this former boathouse takes inspiration from the Danish Sommerhus. It cements its coastal position with tall glazing oriented towards the sea and a decidedly nautical colour palette, alongside an upside-down configuration that emulates a ship deck with the bedrooms on the floor below. Well-positioned to accommodate life by the sea, the Boathouse is just 300 meters from the renowned coastline of East Wittering, near Chichester.

The Tour

Set on a quiet residential street, the house presents a striking façade of dark timber cladding and a steeply pitched roof set behind a private front courtyard, disguised by an established laurel hedgerow. A front door with a playful porthole window opens into the entrance hall.

The house takes an inverted format, a considered decision that places the open-plan living spaces on the upper floor, where remarkable natural light can be enjoyed throughout the day.

The open-plan kitchen-living-dining area is arranged beneath a high vaulted ceiling with exposed, white-painted trusses. Beautiful hand-sawn oak floorboards run underfoot, while a series of skylights are carefully positioned to draw plenty of natural light into the plan. The contemporary galley-style kitchen is fitted with dark navy cabinetry above and below white quartz countertops, integrated appliances, and a window that opens to sea views.

The house has been finished with excellent storage space along the eaves. Sliding glazed doors extend from the living space to a balcony, intimately enclosed beneath the roof overhang and dark timber cladding, with plenty of space for seating.

Two well-proportioned bedrooms occupy the ground floor. Both have built-in wardrobes and storage, while the front bedroom has sliding doors that lead out to the patio/garden.

Completing the plan is a generous shower room, finished with richly veined marble-style tiles, and a separate WC.

Outdoor Space

A secluded decked terrace at the front of the house is screened from the street by lush laurel hedging and evergreen shrubs, with plenty of space for outdoor dining. There is an external store, perfect for keeping surfboards and other equipment, as well as a driveway which provides off-street parking for one car.

The Area

East Wittering is nestled along the beautiful West Sussex coastline. It has excellent independent shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as an artisan bakery, a butchers’ shop and fishmongers. East Wittering and Bracklesham Bay are a hub for surfers, with the best conditions in the winter months for consistent, clean waves.

At the mouth of the Manhood Peninsula, West Wittering is equally well served with beaches renowned for swimming in warmer months. Chichester is a 25-minute drive away, with Pallant House and Chichester Theatre, alongside Chichester Marina for the picturesque grounds of Chichester Harbour National Landscape. There are many footpaths and cycle routes along the Salterns Way to explore the coastline, wildlife and surrounding area.

Transport links from Chichester are excellent, with twice-hourly direct journey times to London Victoria in just over 90 minutes. Southampton International Airport is under an hour away by car, and there are fantastic road connections elsewhere.