Rye’s maritime history fused with contemporary design in East Sussex, England by JD Architects

Article source: JD Architects

JD Architects (JDA) has recently completed its ambitious redevelopment of Cinque Ports Street, the 1,050 sq. m. former Central Garage site in Rye. Derelict for fourteen years, these buildings have been given a new lease of life with a striking, angular wooden façade made from Kebony. With its clever design and sustainable focus, Cinque Ports Street was announced as a winner at this year’s RIBA Regional South East Award.

Image Courtesy © Oliver Perrott

• Architects: JD Architects
• Project: Rye’s maritime history fused with contemporary design
• Location: East Sussex, England, UK
• Photography: Oliver Perrott

Image Courtesy © Oliver Perrott

Influenced by the town’s maritime history, the transformed properties, predominantly for residential use but also containing two retail units at ground floor, combine architectural elements inspired by historic imagery of the towns nearby shipyard warehouse and traditional coastal architecture of the East Sussex coastline. Prior to construction, significant archaeological digs and studies were carried out to inform the design parameters and avoid disruption to the remains of Rye’s medieval town wall, which runs through the site and is protected as a scheduled ancient monument (SAM).

Image Courtesy © Oliver Perrott

Image Courtesy © Oliver Perrott

JDA wanted to create a modest design that emphasized the clean lines of traditional maritime architecture and incorporated a large amount of timber cladding, made from beautiful dark-hued Kebony, the sustainable alternative to tropical hardwood. This creates a dramatic outline on the streetscape and the steep pitched roof that angles sharply down at either side ensures the building matches the heights of adjoining buildings. The window placement has also been carefully considered to maximize the views towards Rother Valley, with expansive glass openings to obtain the most light.

Image Courtesy © Oliver Perrott

Image Courtesy © Oliver Perrott

The decision to choose Kebony for the cladding was made due to the wood’s aesthetic and environmental credentials, being far more environmentally friendly than comparable construction materials. Developed in Norway, the Kebony technology is an environmentally friendly, patented process, which enhances the properties of fast growing sustainable softwood with a bio-based liquid. By impregnating the wood with furfuryl alcohol, the wood’s cell wall is polymerized resulting in greatly improved durability and dimensional stability. This process gives the wood a dark coloration, comparable to woods such as mahogany or teak, which perfectly complement the quiet and restrained color pallet of Cinque Ports Street.

Image Courtesy © Oliver Perrott

Tags: East Sussex, England

Categories: Commercial Building, Renovation, Residential

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