Martins

East Bridge, Suffolk

Martins is a contemporary single-storey home designed as a fully accessible retreat, close to RSPB Minsmere, on the Suffolk Coast. The house was conceived to provide a calm and restorative living environment, with strong visual and physical connections to the surrounding landscape.

The building adopts a gently cranked form, allowing the principal rooms to face south and maximise natural light while creating a series of sheltered outdoor spaces. Large glazed openings and low window sills provide views across the garden and surrounding countryside, while sliding doors connect the main living areas directly to the terrace.

Accessibility was a central part of the design, with level thresholds throughout and carefully planned circulation spaces to allow easy movement. Recessed sections of the building provide sheltered entrances and step-free access to the garden, while the polished concrete floor continues from the interior living space onto the terrace, creating a seamless transition between inside and out.

Externally, the house is clad in natural larch, with contrasting black timber elements that highlight the recessed sections of the façade. The roof accommodates an array of photovoltaic-thermal panels, working alongside a high-performance timber frame and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system to deliver excellent energy efficiency.