For many years, as visitors approached Rye from the Hastings direction, one of the first buildings they saw was a derelict warehouse – an eyesore that felt far from fitting for such a historic town. Over the past year, however, that view has been transformed. In its place now stands an elegant, proud and architecturally striking building, offering a far warmer and more fitting welcome to Rye.
Rob Pollard, co-director of RX Architects talks about the journey from Rye Creative Centre to Coal Yard.
What prompted the move to your new riverside office, and why does it feel like the right time? We started RX Architects in 2016, so the move to the new office has coincided with our tenth year in business. Over that time we have been fortunate enough to work with some great people on a wide range of interesting and fun projects.
Tell us about your journey from Rye Creative Centre to your new home. We started at the Rye Creative Centre (RCC), which has been home for us since we founded the practice. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at RCC, and especially all the fantastic artists who made it an enjoyable place to work. As our team grew, we moved into more spaces at RCC over the years and the move to the new office will take some adjustment.
Was it always an ambition to design and build your own office? We always wanted to design and build our own office, even before we had started RXA. When we set up the business we chose to name the practice after the boat code for Rye and Hastings (RX), rather than naming it after ourselves, as we feel that we, and our projects, have a real connection to Rye. The RX link, however, makes the location of the new office, directly on the river front, even more fitting.
How did the opportunity to acquire the former Gristmill site come about? Ironically, we had worked for several previous owners on residential development schemes at the site previously known as The Gristmill, so when it became clear that these developments were unlikely to come to fruition and that the land might become available, we decided the time was right. The site location, but also the build and project, seemed an ideal fit for us.
The Gristmill is now known as Coal Yard. Why the change of name? We chose to rename the site and building. The previous name The Gristmill was most commonly linked to its previous use as a pine furniture warehouse, but in more recent years it had become a bit of an eyesore on an important approach into Rye – so we decided a new name was needed. The historic maps of the area (and a helpful suggestion from several people in Rye) show links to the previous use of this particular stretch of the river as coal yards. We found a number of articles and historic photos showing boats lining up on the river delivering coal to the land on and around the site, so we thought this was a fitting nod to the history of this part of the river.
Why was it important to retain and reuse the existing structure? We wanted to re-use the concrete frame which has stood on the site for over 50 years. Re-use of existing buildings is something we enjoy; it brings its own challenges, but more often than not re-purposing something is also a more sustainable and a low-energy approach to take. A similar example is Tillingham Winery where we converted various farm buildings into the new winery, restaurant, shop and hotel.
How does the building reflect RX Architects’ environmental values? As one of the first 20 architects’ practices in the UK to achieve B-corp status, we were keen that the office build reflected these values. First and foremost the key strategy was to re-use the structure of the building to minimise waste. We used local contractors and suppliers on the build, with all of whom we regularly work on our projects. We have installed air source heat pumps to heat and cool the building, along with solar panels to help offset our energy demands. The building is now very well insulated, with triple glazed windows and it uses various natural and recycled materials.
What is B-corp status? B-Corp certification validates architecture firms that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. It is becoming a prominent benchmark in the built environment, signalling that a practice balances profit with purpose by prioritizing employees, local communities, and the planet.
Now that you’re settled in, what is next for RX Architects? We are already settling in well to the new office, and enjoying the space, whilst continuing our work on more exciting projects. These include a rural conversion of agricultural buildings into a mixed arts community, work with a well-known winery in the South Downs, several contemporary family homes, and a high end beachfront development in Sandgate.
Image Credits: Kt bruce .