Stocks Lane

A Contemporary Coastal Home for Active Family Living

Located in East Wittering on the West Sussex coast, Stocks Lane is a contemporary four-bedroom home designed for a family whose lives revolve around the sea. Replacing a dilapidated bungalow, the new house provides a highly sustainable, light-filled home that balances everyday practicality with calm, contemporary living.

Rather than simply creating a high-performance house, the design focuses on supporting the family's lifestyle - where beach walks, kite surfing and wing foiling shape the rhythm of daily life throughout the seasons.

Designed Around Lifestyle

The internal layout is carefully organised around light, movement and flexibility. Living spaces capture the morning and afternoon sun, while carefully framed views create moments of connection with the surrounding landscape, including a glimpse of the sea from the first floor.

Generous glazing strengthens the relationship between house and garden, allowing the main living spaces to flow naturally outdoors during the warmer months while maintaining a strong visual connection throughout the year.

Practicality is equally important. A dedicated wet room with external access provides space for wetsuits and beach equipment, while integrated storage throughout the house ensures the home remains adaptable, organised and ready for everyday family life.

Materiality & Performance

Constructed using a prefabricated timber frame, the house combines contemporary architecture with excellent environmental performance. A highly insulated building envelope, air source heat pump, underfloor heating and solar panels reduce energy demand while creating a comfortable living environment throughout the year.

Natural, durable materials have been selected for their longevity within the coastal climate, while careful consideration has been given to privacy, daylight and reducing road noise without compromising openness.

Contemporary Coastal Architecture

The architecture balances simple, grounded forms with carefully crafted contemporary detailing. A projecting balcony introduces a sense of lightness while framing views and creating sheltered external spaces.

While planning permission for the scheme was secured by Cloud 9 Design Studio, Adam Knibb Architects were subsequently appointed at RIBA Stage 4 to develop the technical design, coordinate the construction information and work with the wider consultant team to deliver the project on site.

Stocks Lane demonstrates how thoughtful contemporary architecture can move beyond aesthetics to create a home that is practical, sustainable and deeply connected to the people who live there.