An Interior Architect's Own Conversion - A Former Ambulance Station in Rye, East Sussex (House Tour)

St. John is the transformation of a former ambulance station in the heart of medieval Rye, East Sussex — purchased by architect and interior designer Marta Nowicka in 2014 and reimagined as a four-bedroom home that is deeply rooted in its historic setting. The project combines the original St. John Ambulance building with a newly constructed extension, clad entirely in locally made pan tiles. The result is a monolithic, vernacular form that extrudes from the existing structure — roof and wall unified under a single material — taking a distinctly local building tradition and distilling it into something more elemental. Inside, the ground floor opens into a single great hall, consciously evoking the medieval tradition of communal living around a central hearth. A double-sided wood burner anchors the space, with kitchen, dining, and sitting areas arranged around it and connections drawn through to walled courtyard gardens on either side. The kitchen references the building's former life through a bespoke stainless-steel island by Cavendish, paired with timber veneer cabinetry and Carrara marble — a considered mix of materials that feels at once industrial and domestic. Throughout the home, found objects and handcrafted details give the project a singular authenticity. A cast-in-situ concrete staircase whose rock-pool texture — the happy result of an imperfect pour — brings an unexpected coastal quality to the hallway. Original windows with their pull-string mechanisms are retained, reglaed, and paired with blinds that rise rather than fall, preserving sightlines to the sky while providing privacy from the cobbled street below. The master bedroom, a triangular roof-light, and an oak floor carried consistently across walls and floors complete a home that is simultaneously rooted in place, honest in its making, and quietly remarkable. Architecture & Design by DOMstay https://www.domstay.com/ Read more about this project: https://www.homeinspire.co.uk/propert... 00:00 Introduction — St. John, Rye 00:34 History, planning and the new extension 01:38 Gardens and outdoor spaces 02:05 The great hall, kitchen and dining 05:03 Windows, light and the walled garden 06:40 Entrance hall and concrete staircase 07:29 First floor — bedrooms and rooftop views 09:27 The roof light and master bedroom For more from HomeInspire: Instagram:   / homeinspireuk   Website – https://www.homeinspire.co.uk/ HomeInspire YouTube -    / @homeinspireuk   Subscribe to ArchInspire for more Architectural & Design project films. Location: Rye, East Sussex #Interiors #Architect #Home