This project reimagines a former industrial unit in central Lewes, sensitively updating a 1990s residential conversion that had lost much of its original character. REAFE STUDIO restored the historic frontage by reinstating the original brick piers and relocating the garage doors to their proper position. New heritage-inspired double doors and Crittall-style windows bring light and architectural clarity to the elevation. Inside, we opened up the ground floor and introduced a bespoke timber-and-glass wall designed to showcase the owner’s Alfa Romeo as a feature within the space. A conservation-led, design-driven transformation respectful of its industrial heritage.

Bluebell Cottage is a uniquely characterful woodland home on a historic green lane north of Lewes. Once a small woodsman’s cottage, it evolved into a patchwork of four mismatched extensions with poor light and flow. REAFE STUDIO’s redesign retains the original horseshoe footprint while replacing a low-quality infill with a light-filled modern structure centred around an internal picture garden. The exterior will be reclad in black Viroc boards, creating subtle “shadow architecture” that blends into the woodland. A new Craig Ellwood–inspired garden-facing extension introduces warm materials, exposed timber and expansive glazing to frame the surrounding landscape.

This project marks a new chapter for one of London’s leading aesthetic clinic groups. REAFE STUDIO developed a calm, contemporary spatial concept designed to elevate both experience and performance. By rethinking movement, privacy, lighting and materiality, the clinic now offers a more intuitive customer journey, increased treatment capacity and a premium sense of trust. Thoughtful design became a strategic tool—improving workflow, reducing waiting times and strengthening brand perception. The result is a beautifully crafted environment that feels confident, balanced and human, while quietly supporting business growth. A space that doesn’t just look better — it works better.

REAFE STUDIO is more than an architectural practice. With over 25 years’ experience across retail design, graphic design, furniture and product design, our work is shaped by a multidisciplinary approach that brings clarity, craft and intelligence to every project. From heritage homes in Lewes to rural remodels, and from bespoke interiors to recent retail environments at Battersea Power Station, our design thinking is enriched by decades of creating spaces, objects and brand experiences. This combined expertise allows us to design holistically—where architecture, interiors and identity work together to create thoughtful, refined and enduring places.