Project overview
When previous clients purchased a dilapidated house in a wooded hillside on the edge of Salcombe overlooking the South Devon National Landscape in one direction, and with views down the valley opposite to the Kingsbridge Estuary, the design needed to maximise the view and connection to landscape within the constraints of the topography and woodland.
By inverting the plan of the new dwelling and raising the building with an additional storey, the top floor living spaces are afforded the expansive views, whilst lower level bedrooms have framed and focussed views into the trees.
The building is separated into three layers, a lower storey of concrete and stone, set into the slope of the hillside to provide a direct material connection to the ground, a central entrance level which is clad in mirrored glass to reflect trees and help the building visually ‘dissolve’ into the woodland setting, and an upper storey containing open plan living spaces which is clad in dark zinc with glazed openings set within deep reveals and sidewalls to minimise light pollution and focus views.
