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Pinnacle Point

Eastbourne
2018

This site is at the very western end of Eastbourne seafront on the chalk cliffs that continue towards Beachy Head (155m above sea level). Foyle Way that leads via Holywell to the 100-mile long South Downs Way marks the boundary of the South Downs National Park.

The house was originally owned by the headmaster of St Bede’s and two undated photographs show it to be an extensive remodelling and enlargement of an older structure in the school grounds.

The present house is largely hidden from Foyle Way by a pebble feature wall and is not visible from the beach below due to the cliffs. The proposed works to the house were focussed entirely on internal reorganisation of spaces and environmental upgrades. Externally the aim is to create a more sympathetic landscape and provide additional screening to St Bede’s and to Foyle Way. Landscape designer Ian Kitson devised a series of terraces that contain and protect a variety of plants that are suitable for such exposed coastal locations.

Marie Houghton Mead advised on all sustainability matters for the upgrade, which were extensive and included a complete overclad of the building fabric.

Design Team: Nic Pople, Muneeb Ali Khan, Sophie Woodhatch, Jen Rawlings

Sustainability Consultant: Marie Houghton Mead