| BEFORE & AFTER HOME |
BUILDING A NEW HOME ON THE COAST GAVE DEBRA AND JOHN EGAN BOTH AMAZING VIEWS AND THE CHANCE TO CREATE THEIR DREAM SUSTAINABLE HOME
FEATURE LIVING4MEDIA/AMY MAYNARD/ALI LOVETT
Deebra and John Egan were already familiar with the beautiful stretch of coast at Camber Sands in East Sussex when they got wind of a run-down beach-front property that was going on the market. Having often visited friends in the area, the couple had fallen under its spell and were thrilled when they saw this prime spot up for sale.
After a difficult buying process, Debra and John completed the sale in 2014 and, determined to use local companies where possible, found Rye-based architects RX Architects (rxarchitects. com). Its contemporary design – to replace the existing threebedroom dwelling with a sleek cedar-clad eco-conscious new-build – appealed. The couple wanted their new home to maximise the views of the beach and offer a functional space for their grown-up children and granddaughter to visit, all while working to sustainable principles.
ECO CONSIDERATIONS
‘We wanted to create something environmentally friendly and with a low carbon footprint, so we used local builders and craftspeople,’ says Debra. ‘Plus, we were very keen to build something that worked in harmony with the beach landscape, as well as the exposed nature of the site. Natural materials were used as much as possible, plus we have solar panels, a fresh-air circulating system and a ground-source heat pump. It means the bills are unbelievably low.’ And when it came to the design, Debra and John were on the same page.‘At the top of our priority list was maximising the views from the house, so we added plenty of large windows,’ says Debra. ‘The planning stage was pretty straightforward but, when it came to the build, the conditions were a continual battle. The weather was very unpredictable and during the winter it was especially challenging, which caused a lot of delays.’ The hard work, however, was worth it, as the finished property caught the eye of The British Home Awards, and won the Small House of the Year Award in 2019.
CONVERSATION PIECE
The house has transformed the way the couple live all year round. ‘The summer is magical,’ says Debra, ‘and I love to swim in the sea. The previous owner lived here her entire life and swam in the sea every single day. And although we love being down by the water during the warmer weather, the windswept winter months are also a draw – I love the roaring fire and the wild sea outside. It is amazing how many people who walk past on the beach want to talk. The house is a real conversation pi
