Set within a 1.5 acre site in the sensitive landscape of Chichester Harbour, this new home responds to the ecological and visual significance of its SSSI and AONB context. Close consultation with local planners and Chichester Harbour Conservancy informed a proposal described during the planning process as “sensitive and elegant in its design”, securing planning permission.

The architecture is composed of two connected volumes. A two-storey element rises from a flint plinth, grounding the house in its setting, while a lower, single-storey wing cantilevers over a natural swimming pond. Between them, a glazed link appears to float above the water, lending the smaller volume a sense of independence and an intimate relationship with the surrounding waterscape.

This relationship draws inspiration from the Grade II-listed Raptackle on Bosham Quay, whose timber-clad form rests on brick piers, allowing the rising tide to pass beneath it. Here, that familiar local typology is reinterpreted through contemporary materials and carefully balanced forms.

At the heart of the house, a triple-height dining space creates a dramatic vertical connection between levels. Floating balconies overlook this central volume, while double-height glazing frames views across the pond and gardens.

The landscape is conceived as an integral part of the architecture. New habitats and carefully considered planting support reptiles, newts, bats, dragonflies and a wider diversity of wildlife, allowing the site’s ecology to develop alongside its occupation.

A high-performance building fabric, ground-source heat pump, photovoltaic panels and rainwater harvesting and recycling underpin the home’s energy and resource strategy. The approved scheme also includes a pool cabin and sauna, art studio, garage, tennis court, outdoor dining space, hot tub and sculpture trail, creating a series of places to gather, retreat and experience the landscape.