Architects Marta Nowicka and Co
www.martanowicka.com
Location United Kingdom,
Conduit Hill, Rye TN31, UK
Area 215.0 sqm
Project Year 2016
Photographs Vojteck Ketz
Manufacturers Domus Clerkenwell,
Epcot Design Ltd, Puure Space Ltd
Tudor Roof Tiles, WFS - Flooring Specialists
St Johns Ambulance Station
Marta Nowicka and Co
Archetech - Page 44
Exterior: We rebuilt the 1970’s
extension with a pitched roof that
visually extruded the pitched roof
form of the original building. This was
then clad in local Lydd handmade clay
tiles to compliment the original peg
tiles, which then continue down and
clad the walls of the side extension.
Conservation style roof windows
have then been positioned on the
front and rear bringing direct north
and south natural light into the
roof space. Flush architectural glass
windows from Czech Republic have
been used throughout to fade into the
background, placing the emphasis on
the original architecture. A stunning
triangular section of glass has been
inserted between the original roof
pitches creating breath-taking rooftop
and countryside views from the master
bedroom. Aligned modern doors lead
into medieval like wall gardens in a
straight vista.
We created a huge 780sqft open-plan
living, dining and kitchen space on
the ground floor by removing a nonoriginal, central wall that divided the
offices from the ambulance workshop/
garage. This created an amazing
entertaining space within the full floor
plan of the original Ambulance Station.
To create division of zones within the
space we cast a large concrete plinth in
the centre of the room to sit a doublesided wood burning stove and wood
store.
The existing I beam that runs along
the ceiling above the plinth has been
left exposed and the original sliding
doors have been perfectly replicated
to maintain an industrial feel. The
carefully copied ambulance doors bifold out onto a large reclaimed timber
terrace and the walled courtyard.
The kitchen combines greyed timber
cabinets with stunning Carrera Marble
worktops and splash-backs. A brushed
stainless steel island unit compliments
the timber and marble while
referencing the use of this material in
the medical industry.
We used wide engineered oak flooring
on the ground and first floors that
then continues to clad the walls of the
double height stairwell and bedrooms
in the roof space.
The wet-room on the ground floor
and large family bathroom upstairs
have been tiled with ornate ‘lace- like’
porcelain tiles from Italy. A stainless
steel nurses trolley has been used in
the bathroom as a vanity unit with a
large basin and mirror above.