Lepe House, Lepe, Hampshire - Refurbishment Lepe house is a highly unusual private residence situated on Lepe Estate in southern Hampshire. The sprawling 3 storey house has developed piecemeal over the past 250 years, and although not listed, retains a charm and character which owes much to its dramatic location by the seashore overlooking the Solent and Beaulieu River Navigation. The origins of the current house date back to the mid-18th century when the property was an inn/ale house (The Ship Inn). Ownership passed to the antecedents of the current owners in 1879. The original building was subsequently enlarged and incrementally developed. By 1908 the building enclosed a small central courtyard. The last major alterations/remodelling were completed in 1927 providing the external appearance seen today. Over the years the elements have not been kind to the fabric of the building and changing needs of the family required a comprehensive programmme of repair, upgrades and alterations which spanned 4 years. The works were carefully considered to minimise impact and have been carried out to the highest possible standard. Although the repairs and alterations are far too numerous and complex to mention here in detail, we have attempted to summarise the main works to give an overall flavour of the project. Internally; the spaces were taken back to their original finishes and comprehensively restored, which included structural repairs, repairs to lime plaster ceilings, linings, skirtings and cornices, repair and modification of the staircases, installation of new flooring, installation of all new mechanical and electrical systems, and, where possible, insulation installed and windows upgraded to improve the buildings thermal and acoustic performance. The layout was also improved by removal of unsympathetic modern additions and the creation of a modest second floor extension clad in timber singles which enabled the creation of new bathrooms and, at the heart of the house, a new kitchen and pantry. The design and fit-out of these last two spaces were by specialist joinery firm Artichoke. Each room was completely re-decorated following a scheme devised by the interior designer utilising breathable paints and hand printed wallpapers. Externally; The most noticeable alteration is also completely concealed from outside view. Within the enclosed courtyard Radley House have designed a bespoke glazed canopy to entirely enclose the space for use as an atrium. The canopy replaces a makeshift polycarbonate roof and is elevated on columns just above first floor level. Additionally, the existing timber steps within the courtyard have been removed and replaced with a matching spiral staircase and new first floor balcony. The atrium acts as a centralised circulation space to connect the internal spaces and improve the flow of the house. Elsewhere alterations and repairs were discrete to preserve the buildings character and unusual appearance. Here works included repairs to external masonry and joinery, installation of new parapet guarding, new roof terrace decking and replacement rooflights. Overall, the aim was to retain the original special architectural character and quirks of the building, in line with best practice. In addition to the buildings, the grounds themselves have been lightly re-modelled including new pathways, lighting and bespoke gates. These features were carefully designed in traditional materials to compliment the style of the house and landscape setting. Radley House Partnership were the architects, lead consultants and Principal Designer for the works. Numerous other specialists were involved during the project, including the aforementioned Artichoke, plus M&E consultants ION Consulting engineers, structural engineers Marbas Group and quantity surveyors KSP Consultancy. The work was undertaken by a team of skilled subconsultants under the dutiful direction of the Principal Contractor, R Moulding & Co. (Salisbury) Ltd., who arranged and oversaw all aspects of the building work.