AR Design Studio sails through planning with West Sussex house

AR Design Studio has secured planning permission for a bespoke new-build house at Bosham in the Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The practice, which is based in Winchester, previously delivered another property in the Bosham area – Creek House.

Its latest approval is a 300sq m four-bedroom family home that will be raised above ground to minimise the impact of flooding that the site is prone to.

AR said the design of the property, named Five Elms, was inspired by an 18^th-century grade II-listed warehouse that is planted in the water of Bosham Quay. It uses solid brick plinths to raise the building above water level.

“We translated this rationale to our site where flooding commonly occurs,” said practice founder and director Andy Ramus.

“From the elevated ground floor, decking steps down to the landscape, while from an elevated perspective, the site also hosts uninterrupted views.

“This in turn has informed the concept of an upside-down house, private rooms inhabiting the solid plinths at ground floor to raise the first floor timber form, its open-plan layout and balconies taking advantage of the views overlooking the surrounding farmland.”

Ramus said the concept of the waterside Raptackle warehouse had been continued through to the home’s material palette. Solid materials of flint and a contemporary linear brick were chosen for the ground floor, supporting the light-weight timber first-floor form, reflecting the blend of traditional red brick and natural hues in the surrounding area.