The Retreat
Crafted for coastal living
Boasting sustainable design principles and natural materials, the retreat employs renewable energy solutions and innovative detailing to strengthen the connection between home, sea, and the owner’s artistic pursuits.
Project details
Client
Private client
Location
Selsey, West Sussex
Area
180 square meters
Type
Residential
Developed in collaboration between Hatch + Mason and MPA Architects, The Retreat transforms a former bungalow site near the Portsmouth coast into a timber home built to Passive House principles. Elevated above site levels to accommodate tidal conditions, the design responds sensitively to its coastal setting while embodying a rigorous approach to sustainability and craft.
The brief required a beautiful, environmentally friendly dwelling that maximised coastal views and featured materials that would age gracefully over time.
The primary material, British sweet chestnut cladding, was sourced locally from Vastern Timber. This timber initially showcased a warm orange hue that has since developed a silvery patina, contributing to the house's evolving aesthetic. Likewise, the bright copper detailing has aged to a verdant green, enhancing the exterior's character.
A set of design features defines the client and design team’s collaboration and results in a hidden bookcase leading to a secret ocean-view bathroom and a concealed lift ingeniously disguised within a kitchen cabinet. On the exterior is a thoughtfully designed outdoor shower for rinsing off after a seaside swim.
The house meets the demands of a modern Passive House while reflecting the client’s desire for a Victorian-inspired aesthetic.
Sustainability was a cornerstone of the project with a natural cross-ventilation design for cooling and a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system for efficiency. Solar panels are positioned on the rear of the house.
Photography by Chris Snook