Thomas Faire Architects transformed a tired coastal bungalow into a contemporary holiday home, focusing on low-maintenance living and seamless indoor-outdoor connections. By retaining much of the existing fabric, the project significantly reduces its carbon footprint—offering a sustainable response to coastal redevelopment.

The existing building was a standard, pre-designed unit that did not respond to its site conditions. Its generic form ignored solar orientation, resulting in limited natural light and a compartmentalised floor plan. The layout was inflexible, with spaces that felt disconnected from the landscape and lacked spatial openness.

Working closely with a knowledgeable and culturally attuned client, the aim was to create a lighter, more connected home through minimal yet strategic interventions. Key ambitions included improving spatial flow, increasing access to natural light and views, and establishing a stronger relationship between indoor living spaces. 

The material palette draws inspiration from North Norfolk’s coastal vernacular—flint walls, pan-tiled roofs, and brick detailing combine to create a sense of weight and texture. Warmth is introduced through Iroko, a slivered brown timber, and a lime-mix mortar with a soft white sandy colour. As a counterbalance to the heavy flint and stone of the front facade a light white rendered element frames the small rear addition, which was carefully designed to unlock and enhance the floor plan. Due to the limitations of the existing building’s fixed orientation, a separate garden structure was introduced—designed to soak up the sun’s warmth by day and gently release it in the evening, creating a comfortable, inviting outdoor space.

The architects specified increased openings on the south-facing boundary elevation to enhance natural light in the kitchen and dining area. The flat roof dormers maintain a simple roof form, avoiding unnecessary complexity while focusing decorative detail thoughtfully in other ares for example the new street facing gable . The flint and brick gable detailing features triangular sections within the flint, providing both structural stability and referencing local brickwork. To minimise maintenance and improve longevity, robust window and door systems with durable, weather-resistant frames were specified, alongside materials chosen to reduce the need for regular painting or sealing and to avoid complex outdoor features requiring frequent upkeep.

This project demonstrates how thoughtful design can transform a standard coastal bungalow into a sustainable, low-maintenance retreat that harmonises with its environment. By embracing local materials and smart architectural solutions, the home offers lasting comfort.