Lewes House

Architects
Sandy Rendel

Year
2015

GIA
257 square metres

Build cost
£770K

Location
Lewes, East Sussex

Located on the bank of the river Ouse in Lewes, East Sussex, the property is well known locally as 'the rusty house', it is also known as 'the corten riverhouse' or the ‘Riverside Shed’.

Built as a family home, the main body of the house is a simple two-storey pitched roof structure, but with a ridge line that is carved away to break down the building's scale and reflect the cliff contours behind.

With a Corten cladding installation, the gables and handmade ash-glazed brickwork, traditional to the town, help it to tie in well with the street.

The rugged in-situ concrete retaining walls of the riverbank morph into slightly more refined board-marked concrete on the ground floor, which gives way to Corten rainscreen cladding above.

The property is striking due to its modern industrial design & simple inventive moves such as reversing the way the Corten sheets are hung to create a subtle play between openness & solidity.

The project was featured on the TV program, Grand Designs Series 16. It was also selected to feature in the Grand Designs at 25 book, compiled by Kevin McCloud himself. 

The property has gained recognition for its innovative and amazing use of materials. The wrap around window on the ground floor provides outstanding views across the river & of the natural landscape.

Featured in

  • The April 2017 issue of Build It Magazine as one of their ‘Inspiring SIPs homes’.

  • Grand Designs TV Show Series 16

  • Grand Designs Online 

  • The Publication Grand Designs at 25 - Game Changing Designs from the iconic series.

Awards

  • South Downs National Park Design Award Residential Category 2019 

  • Homebuilding & Renovating Best Residential Design Award 2016

  • RIBA South East Award

  • RIBA National Award for ‘Individual House’ 2017.

  • Sunday Times British Homes Award 2016 for One-off House or Extension (2,500-5,000sq ft)

  • The Friends of Lewes Design Awards 2016 for making 'a significant contribution to the enhancement of the character of Lewes'

  • Sussex Heritage Trust 'Small Scale Residential Award'

  • Shortlisted for Grand Designs House of the Year 2016

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Two Pavilions