Cakeham House

Cakeham is the transformation of a semi-detached cottage in the coastal village of West Wittering, West Sussex. The project reimagines an ordinary and fragmented property into a light-filled, contemporary family home that connects directly with its landscape and seascape setting.

The original cottage had been compromised by a series of outdated extensions that offered little coherence or character. The brief was to create a comfortable, sustainable home for family living - one that balanced generous social areas with private retreats, maximised natural light, and celebrated its unique position with views across farmland to the sea.

The design removes the piecemeal additions and replaces them with a carefully considered extension that is both bold and sympathetic. A dramatic double-height entrance hall now forms the heart of the home, connecting to open-plan living, kitchen, and dining areas that flow seamlessly into the garden. Slimline sliding glazing opens the main living spaces directly to the garden and pool terrace, creating a seamless flow between indoors and outdoors. Upstairs, expansive glazing captures wide views of the countryside and coastal horizon, reinforcing the home’s connection to its setting.

Externally, the architecture takes its cues from the local vernacular of agricultural buildings, while asserting a fresh and contemporary character. Vertical timber cladding, left to weather naturally, softens the massing and grounds the building in its rural context. Surrounding the home, a landscape of naturalistic planting - ornamental grasses and hardy coastal species -  ties the house to its environment, echoing the textures and colours of the West Wittering shoreline. The garden design enhances the seasonal character of the site while offering biodiversity and a low-maintenance approach that feels in tune with the local ecology.

Throughout the design process, Adam Knibb Architects worked closely with both the clients and the local authority, responding to valuable feedback and guiding the scheme through planning with sensitivity. The result is a project that not only achieves planning success in a sensitive coastal location, but also delivers excellent value by rationalising the floor plan and enhancing spatial quality without unnecessary complexity.

Cakeham is more than a renovation; it is a demonstration of how contemporary architecture and thoughtful landscaping can breathe new life into an existing home, elevating it to meet the demands of modern living while remaining rooted in place. It showcases Adam Knibb Architects’ ethos: to design homes that are context-driven, crafted with precision, and made to enhance the daily lives of those who live within them.