A house shaped by light, landscape and the horizon.
Type
New House
Status
Complete
Location
Type
Size
Status
-
-
-
-
Cornwall
New House
190 m²
Complete
The site occupies a prominent position on a coastal hillside, visible within the wider landscape and forming part of the skyline when seen from the water. The challenge was to engage expansive views without allowing the house to dominate its setting.
The project replaces an existing bungalow, retaining a similar footprint while rethinking how the building meets the ground. Rather than increasing height, the strategy works with the natural fall of the site to create a more grounded and composed form.
The house is set on a raised stone plinth, allowing the primary living spaces to sit above neighbouring roofs and open towards long views of the sea while maintaining a low and restrained profile against the skyline. At the garden edge, the plinth forms a ha-ha, allowing the terrace to extend outward while dissolving into the landscape.
A simple, controlled form is paired with carefully positioned openings that frame oblique views of sea and sky. From within, the house unfolds as a sequence of spaces that expand and contract, moving from more enclosed areas into a generous central living volume.
Internally, the plan is organised around a central hall rising to a rooflight at the apex of the hipped roof. From here, the house opens in four directions, drawing light deep into the plan and establishing visual connections between garden, sky and sea. The arrangement allows the house to feel both open and sheltered, supporting different modes of living throughout the day.
From the outset, the building is shaped through a fabric-first approach informed by Passive House principles. Careful control of glazing, insulation and construction ensures consistent comfort and low energy demand, allowing the house to perform reliably in an exposed coastal environment.
Materials are deliberately restrained. Roof and walls are wrapped in a continuous skin of natural slate, grounding the building within its context. Openings are lined in timber, softening their depth and introducing warmth, while frameless oriel windows extend outward to capture specific views.
The result is a house that resolves a complex and exposed site through clarity and restraint, creating a calm and enduring place to live within the coastal landscape.
Designed by David Jones while a Director at KAST Architects.
If you are considering a new home or a sensitive project of your own, we would be delighted to hear from you.