Architects in Eastbourne

Shape Architecture is a design led Chartered RIBA practice established in 2006. With an office at Maritime House in Hove we work throughout Eastbourne, Brighton, and Hove

We specialise in residential design and offer our clients a friendly, supportive, and flexible service.

If you would like to discuss a potential project please feel free to contact us at 01273 648 342 or brighton@shapearchitecture.co.uk 

Eastbourne Architects

Our practice undertakes projects of all sizes big or small across the Residential Sector. Each project is a response to the site, brief and budget and is underscored by our creative thinking and over 19 years of experience of designing sustainable buildings.

Our fees are competitive and further broken down into RIBA work stages for clarity and flexibility.

Our Services

Shape Architecture is happy to tailor its services to suit our clients’ requirements.  We also offer additional services such as interior, bespoke furniture and garden design.  A full service would see us taking the brief and surveying the property through to completion on site and dealing with the final account.

Rugby Road

Case Study 01: Side Extension in Rugby Road, Brighton

The brief for our project in Rugby Road, called for a side extension and the opening up of a ‘messy’ interior with improved connection to the garden, in order to create a light, bright and contemporary kitchen/dining space. The result has exceeded expectations.

It features a full height and wide glazed window which merges into a rooflight with a frameless glass to glass connection set in a Sedum roof which helps integrate the extension into the garden setting.

Click to link to Rugby Road Project

Rugby Road
Kitchen and Dining area at Rugby Road

Case Study 02: Listed Building Refurbishment in Brunswick Terrace, Brighton

Here at Brunswick Terrace on the seafront we have opened up two rooms to create an impressive kitchen, living and dining room.  The kitchen which was languishing in the rear is now integrated with the living space. A new bedroom with en-suite replaces it. Our range of successful listed building projects in Brighton and Hove is based on our successful relationship with the heritage department in Brighton, and in particular, a thorough understanding of the process which is particularly detailed.

Click to link to Brunswick Terrace Project 

Case Study 03: Basement Extension in Third Avenue, Brighton

Located in a prominent position within the Hove Conservation Area, this project transformed a flat into a spacious duplex by converting and integrating an existing storage room at lower ground level. Planning permission was secured for a new front lightwell to bring daylight into the basement and for larger rear glazing to open up views of the garden. The redesigned lower ground floor now accommodates a bedroom, en-suite, and small gym, creating valuable additional living space. Drawing on our experience of over 30 basement projects and extensive work on listed buildings, Shape Architecture successfully navigated the sensitive planning process, including close attention to details such as brick specification.

Click to link to our project in Third Avenue

An image showing a kitchen of a project in Hove
View of Completed Internal Works
An image showing a kitchen of a project in Hove
View of Completed Kitchen Units and Internal Works
An image of a residential project in Hove
View of Completed Internal Works
An image showing a bathroom of a project in Hove
View of Completed Internal Works to Bathroom

Case Study 04: Roof Terrace in Norfolk Road, Brighton

Our project at Norfolk Road involves an extensive roof terrace in a prominent conservation area, adjacent to a listed building. Accessed via a glazed box, the new terrace provides valuable outdoor space and sweeping views, transforming a property with only a small garden. Alongside this, two substantial first-floor rear extensions were added, creating en-suites and walk-in wardrobes for the rear bedrooms. The result is a home that combines sensitive design with significant improvements in light, space, and functionality.

Click to link to our Norfolk Road Project

Case Study 05: Two Storey Rear Extension in Sandgate Road, Brighton

This project focused on reworking and extending a rear structure in Sandgate Road, where elegant detailing and careful material choices were central to the design. The existing single-storey rear addition, which housed the kitchen, was rebuilt at ground level to improve thermal performance and accommodate a new kitchen. Above, a new storey was added to create a contemporary bathroom. Key features include frameless glass-to-glass windows and green sedum roofs, combining modern design with sustainability and light-filled interiors.

Click to link to our Sandgate Road Project

Case Study 06: Small House in Barclay Cottages, Brighton

A rear extension with a green sedum roof and the creation of a triple-height space above a repositioned stair have redefined the home’s character. On arrival, the interior feels light, spacious, and contemporary. A simple Velux rooflight brings daylight deep into the stair void, while the new oak stair—with open risers and a glass balustrade—adds elegance and enhances the play of light. From the upper floor, views are improved, and the sedum roof enriches the sense of garden space, making this compact property feel both generous and connected to nature.

Click to link to our Barclay Cottages Project

An Image showing a sectional sketch

Case Study 07: Woodsford Square

Shape Architecture’s extension and reworking of a modern townhouse in Woodsford Square in Kensington  features a large roof terrace and glass cube rear extension plus the total reworking of the interior.  The roof terrace is a particularly valuable addition accessed by an elegant rooflight, providing additional outside space with wonderful views.

Click here to link to our project in Woodsford Square

Glass and Transparency

Glass and Transparency

Common to all our projects is the use of glass to bring natural light into all parts of a project and to provide a better visual and physical connection between the Interior and exterior.  These vary from structural glass panels set into the floor to glass cubes housing stairs.  Large scale glazed panels and rooflights feature in our projects.

Extensions

Eastbourne Extensions and Refurbishment

We carry out house extensions of all types, which all serve to transform a home.   Our projects in Eastbourne include small internal refurbishment works such as at Pavilion Road in Eastbourne where we redesigned two bathrooms as illustrated.  We will design 3 or 4 options to discuss with our clients and all designs use 3D graphics to ensure clear communication.

Click here to link to our project in Pavilion Road

Roof Terraces

Rooftop Terrace obtained through Planning Permission in Fulham West London

Eastbourne Roof Terraces

Shape Architecture has been successful in obtaining planning permission for roof terraces throughout London.  These vary from those to Listed Buildings such as Florin Court, to a variety of Mews houses.  Our portfolio of roof terrace projects also include those to a typical terraced house and in several instances the house is divided into flats and the provision of a roof terrace to the upper floor flat is even more beneficial.

Basements

Eastbourne Basement Extensions

Our basement projects form an important part of our portfolio of work.  We have carried out over 30 basement projects throughout London.  Our basement extensions range from those to mews properties, to houses and below gardens and flats.

A successful basement extension rests on the bringing in of natural light into the interior, which is key in creating a quality of space and this is where we have much experience.  Added to this is the design of the stair which might be sat below a glazed section of roof.  Thereafter the arrangement of rooms and their relationship with lightwells is important to consider.

Interior Design

Eastbourne Interior Design

We also have extensive experience in Interior Design and bespoke furniture design which we bring to all our projects. We are experienced in interior lighting design and are happy to advise on all aspects of the use of colour.   Some projects we undertake are small and largely focussed on interior design such as the re-modelling of bathrooms or design of bookcases and storage.

Communication

Client Communication

Shape Architecture communicates clearly to our clients, and this is at the foundation for a successful project.  All designs, no matter what size are developed in 3D alongside freehand drawing.  A typical concept proposals brochure will have 5 different options described in 3D, 2D and freehand drawings and this will be the basis for discussion with the Client as we determine the preferred design.   We are also able to provide animations of projects and model the movement of the sun through an interior.

Contact Us

Shape Architecture Brighton
Maritime House, Basin Road North, Hove, Brighton, BN41 1WR

Phone: +44 (0) 1273 648342

Email: brighton@shapearchitecture.co.uk

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