COASTAL SELF-BUILD
After finding a spectacular plot with sea views, Ian and Helen Doble decided to undertake the self-build project of a lifetime
HOMEOWNERS Ian and Helen Doble
PROJECT Self-build
LOCATION Swansea
BUILD TIME 30 months
BUILD ROUTE Architect developed plans, project managed and hired contractor
HOUSE SIZE 357m²
ORIGINAL HOUSE/PLOT COST £450,000
When they began househunting, Ian and Helen Doble were prepared to undertake minor alterations, but self-building hadn’t crossed their minds. That was, until they found a plot with incredible coastal views. “I’ve always had marine-based jobs and we both have strong links to the sea,” says Ian. The pair were living in Hampshire, but after failing to find a suitable new home there, they turned their attention to Swansea. “I’m Welsh, so I know this coastline,” says Ian. “It has brilliant beaches but is quieter than, say, Devon or Cornwall.”
After around three years of searching, a local couple told the pair about a property that had come up for sale. Positioned on an elevated lot in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it was half finished, thanks to a partial renovation. “The interior was a mess. It had woodworm and damp issues, but the garden offered sea views and beach access,” Ian says. “We loved the location, but renovating wasn’t feasible. We realised that selfbuilding was the only way forward.”
TAKING THE PLUNGE
Seduced by the scenery, the couple decided to purchase the property. “Due to the AONB status, we knew the planning process could be challenging,” says Helen. “So, we looked for award-winning architects with knowledge of the local planning system.” They met three, but instantly gelled with the team at LOYN+CO Architects. “We knew we could work well together.”
The couple gave the firm a comprehensive brief. Keen gardeners and dog owners, they requested a practical retreat that would be suitable all year round. “Most of the time it’s just
the two of us, but we also needed the property to work when guests came to stay,” says Helen. “We wanted to be able to see and hear the ocean, too.”
The project was led by James Stroud of LOYN+CO, who worked with the couple to perfect a design. A key decision was made to move the proposed house 15 metres closer to the coastline, since the original property sat right on the neighbour’s boundary. Working with the topography of the sloping site, James sug
