ON THE beach

BUILDING A NEW HOME ON THE COAST GAVE DEBRA AND JOHN EGAN BOTH AMAZING VIEWS AND THE CHANCE TO CREATE THEIR DREAM SUSTAINABLE HOME

- LIVING4MEDIA/AMY MAYNARD/ALI LOVETT

Debra 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 three-bedroom 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,