TRERETHERN

Informed by local materials & vernacular, the design for a sustainable family house responds positively to its opportunities of varied topography & far-reaching views across the Camel estuary.

Reaching into sustainable principles & informed by passivhaus research & natural building practices that benefit the inhabitants & contribute to the health of communities, the design centres on a new-build house embedded into the North Cornish coastline.

Drawing upon local agricultural practices, vernacular ways of living, geological formations & naturally abundant materials, the design makes full use of local crafts & landscape in its response to topography, environment & outlook.

The backbone of the plan is anchored to a strong, linear wall built in the traditional method using the protected heritage craft of Cornish dry stone walling with local Delabole slate. This wall forms a protective barrier against the elements & harsh weather conditions from the Atlantic Ocean whilst allowing the upper stories to ‘pop-up’ behind as is often the case in local farm architecture.

With a focus on the celebrated natural daylight of the north Cornish coast & opening up long linear internal views to encourage spatial flow & to elongate the interior space, we produced a thoroughly detailed site-responsive scheme to take forward for planning permission.

“Care is taken to blend the intervention with the [landscape] & maximise the relationship with the outdoors.“