"In just a week, our coastal self-build, designed for energy efficiency, has been completed - take a tour!"
A couple, Peter and Liz Bosson, have built a contemporary self-sufficient holiday home near Chichester that boasts a unique combination of style and sustainability. The plot's proximity to the beach has always been its biggest selling point, and the new home maximizes this feature with a first-floor balcony that offers stunning sea views.
The original house was poorly designed and had poor use of space, so the couple sought a four-bedroom house with all bedrooms of the same size. To achieve this, they worked with Milan-based architect Caroline King on the initial drawings and designs, and with Hatch + Mason for detailing the interior elements.
The house has been raised by a metre to protect it from future flooding and was designed to connect with the landscape. In the summer, the doors can be left open for free movement between communal areas.
Adopting a self-sufficient approach combined with a prefabricated construction system offers several significant benefits. For instance, prefabricated homes are built mostly off-site in controlled factory environments, allowing about 90–95% of work to be completed before delivery. This reduces site construction time drastically, often enabling move-in within 14 to 20 weeks, depending on complexity.
This speed is especially advantageous for coastal locations where weather delays can be frequent. Factory conditions also ensure more precise quality control compared to traditional on-site building, improving durability and reducing errors.
In addition, prefab systems often integrate sustainable materials and energy-efficient features such as solar panels, high-performance insulation, and passive heating/cooling designs. Some modular homes achieve passive house standards or even zero-energy outcomes, helping future-proof the home by reducing operating costs and environmental impact.
The home also incorporates self-sufficiency features such as water collection systems, off-grid energy solutions, and sewage treatment. This enhances resilience and independence from utility networks, critical for coastal homes facing infrastructure challenges.
The design is also flexible and can accommodate future upgrades such as smart home technology or climate adaptation measures. Prefab homes usually have fixed pricing, minimizing hidden costs traditionally associated with self-builds.
The kitchen design features reclaimed timber, concrete worktop, and drawers instead of cupboards, adding a touch of rustic charm to the modern layout. The Bosson's invested six years in researching various building methods and self-build routes before embarking on this project.
The result is a stunning, self-sufficient, future-proofed, and ultra-low-energy holiday home that seamlessly blends with its coastal surroundings while offering a comfortable and sustainable living space.
- The Bosson's contemporary self-sufficient holiday home near Chichester showcases an effective blend of energy-efficient features and modern design.
- To renovate their original poorly designed house, Peter and Liz Bosson enlisted the help of architect Caroline King for initial designs and Hatch + Mason for interior detailing.
- The Bosson's home was raised by a meter to protect it from flooding and was designed to connect harmoniously with the surrounding landscape.
- In the summer, the doors can be left open to foster free movement between communal areas, linking the home's interior with the adjacent landscape.
- Embracing a self-sufficient approach combined with a prefabricated construction system offers several benefits, such as reduced site construction time and integration of sustainable materials.
- Some prefab homes are capable of achieving passive house standards, offering inherent energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact.
- The Bosson's home includes self-sufficiency features like water collection systems, off-grid energy solutions, and sewage treatment, enhancing resilience and independence from utility networks.
- The design of the home is adaptable, allowing for potential future upgrades such as smart home technology or climate adaptation measures.
- The kitchen design of the home features reclaimed timber, concrete worktops, and drawers instead of cupboards, adding a rustic charm to the modern layout – a nod to the Bosson's extensive research into building methods and self-build routes.
