The project, sited a stones throw from the sea (hence its name), upgrades an old bungalow, transforming it into a light-filled house.The existing house was poorly arranged with living space tucked in at one end while the sunny end of the site was dominated by a double garage. Mole has upgraded the fabric with new double-glazed windows and doors while adding new loft insulation and a timber-framed extension.The new layout means the house now faces the sea with a new lofty living space filled with light and views. Its high ceiling is broken partway by a triangular rooflight, and an angled column now separates this slightly elevated living space from the dining and kitchen beyond. The kitchen features a counter formed of a block of marble, which sits on a floor of end grain woodblock.AdvertisementArchitects viewThe clients had owned the 1960s bungalow as a second home for many years and explored the idea of replacing it with a new house. However, much about the bungalow was fine, and their needs were not appreciably different in terms of accommodation. They decided, instead, to retain and extend the bungalow, rearranging the house to make better use of the plot. The brief was to increase the living space and add an en-suite bathroom.Our solution was to move the kitchen and living room which were at the southern end of the plot, missing out on sunlight and views of the garden due to the proximity to trees on the southern boundary. A large (rarely used) garage was at the north end of the plot so has been replaced by the new extension, which projects into the garden, allowing the new living room to have a south-facing view to trees beyond the garden. A large east window faces the sea with views of the sky.The extension deliberately elevates the scale of the house, creating a space that is modest but grand. A change in level creates a more intimate living area, and a triangular fireplace and rooflight allow south light into the middle of the plan. The overcladding of the existing house unifies the new extension to the existing house.Meredith Bowles, director, Mole Architects Source:Mole ArchitectsProject dataStart on site October 2021Completion date August 2024Gross internal floor area 214m2 (total); 140m2 (refurbishment); 74m2 (extension)Form of contract JCT Intermediate Building Contract with contractor design portion 2016Construction cost 425,000Architect Mole ArchitectsClient PrivateStructural engineer JP Chick & PartnersM&E consultant ALHQuantity surveyor Gill AssociatesPrincipal designerMole ArchitectsCDM coordinator Mole ArchitectsApproved building inspector We Make ShoreMain contractor SandlingsCAD software used Vectorworks