South View

A better approach to a hillside home

Completed composite-clad steps at South View, climbing the planted hillside.
The completed composite-clad entrance steps.

At South View in Crowborough, the route from the road down to the front door had loose, uneven paving and drainage problems. The brief was to improve the approach while giving the entrance a more considered appearance.

We compared the existing and proposed stair layouts against the slope. The design replaced long, sloping steps of varying heights with a more regular arrangement, while avoiding unnecessary changes to the surrounding ground.

Concrete formed the supporting flight. Composite-clad tread units were assembled off site and fixed onto it, creating the appearance of separate, floating steps. Drainage channels behind the treads directed water towards a French drain beside the stair.

Alongside the steps, we helped develop proposals for an entrance lobby and secured a lawful development certificate for that proposal.

The project brought together the practical requirements of access and drainage with the architectural character of the entrance. The finished steps show how a relatively focused intervention can change the experience of arriving home.