North Lodge

The lodge dates from 1890 and was designed by architect Walter Frederick Cave. The detached dwelling sits in an advantageous position with views over the South Downs.

Near to dense woodland and visible from several vantage points, the scheme aimed for a discreet extension using the existing sloping landscape to conceal the enlarged footprint.

Re-Format wanted to embrace the unique qualities of North Lodge and the setting within the South Downs. These should be celebrated by minimising any new developments’ impact.

The existing topography was to be used as a key driver to concealing the accommodation and building mass of the extension at lower levels with more intrinsic and direct relationship with the landscape.

The extension was to bed into the earth and hold the existing building aloft as as an uncompromising figure in the landscape.

The new kitchen, diner and living room secretly hidden under the new grass roofs, look out on to the landscaped gardens and South Downs beyond.