10
INSIGHTS
PRACTICE PROFILE RX Architects
After working on projects in London and the south east for several years, Rob Pollard and Derek Rankin decided their true calling was to found a resi-focused practice in historic Rye. Roseanne Field reports on their successful partnership, and varied challenges
T
he medieval town of Rye in East Sussex is situated two miles from the south coast, with a rich history, and proximity to other notable towns in the region. Having worked previously on projects in London, Rob Pollard (pictured above right) and co-founder Derek Rankin were inspired to build their practice closer to home in Rye. In 2016 they founded RX Architects (RXA) – with a goal to work on interesting projects in the place they both loved. “We could see a lot of exciting opportunities on our doorstep,” explains Pollard. “We have a fantastic coastline, historically important towns and villages, and incredible expansive rural landscapes to work within.”
The name RX comes from the coastal boat code for Rye, Hastings & Dungeness, embedding the local and seashore-oriented focus into the brand. “We were founded on a sense of place,” says Pollard. “Our unique landscape throws up many design challenges but it’s a great place to live and work.” They say that among the inevitable challenges of setting up a practice, the biggest was simply taking a step into the unknown, says Pollard. However this was assuaged by “having the faith that if you provide the service you know you can, more work will continue to flow.” Fortunately that faith has been borne out, though there’s still uncertainty around knowing when the right time to take on new work or expand is. “It’s always a balancing act to make sure we can work efficiently and do all our projects justice,” says Pollard. The practice has grown steadily, with Amelia Finch joining them within the first month as the first of a team of 13 architects now working from their Rye studio.
RXA works mainly in the high end private residential sector; Pollard reckons it accounts for around 70% of their work. In particular they like to design properties sitting on the coast itself, although they have also completed several bespoke-designed country houses, which Pollard says are “always very interesting.” The remaining 30% spans individually-designed hotels, restaurants, wineries, and commercial projects.
On location Vindicating the initial choice to found the practice in Rye, the
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Druim is a residential scheme which sits in Rye Nature Reserve SSRI, and was a remodelling of an existing, unfinished house
locality has been the core of their work pipeline and supply chain. “We’ve built a great community of fellow consultants, contractors and craftspeople who regularly feed into our work,” says Pollard. The importance of location is imbued in every project, with the practice focusing on tailoring each design to be site specific – and site sensitive – while delivering on the needs and wants of the clients. This is an ethos they’ve carried since day one, no matter what the project may be. “We thoroughly enjoy how mixed the job can be,” says Pollard, “designing a small very bespoke detailed extension to a listed building in one project, then looking to develop a mixed-use masterplan on the next.” “The designs are extremely varied, but we have regular press and client enquiries about a lot of these projects,” he says. “We try to take a fresh approach to each one, but learn from the previous.” The Lookout, a project they recently designed, maximises on the sea views the residence gets from its location
ADF MAY 2024
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