This Live/Work Residence in Cornwall Has the Best Views—and Likely the Attention of the Neighbors

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Project Details:

Location: Newquay, Cornwall, United Kingdom

Architect: Of Architecture / @of__uk

Footprint: 3,875 square feet

Structural Engineer: Martin Perry Associates

Cabinetry Design: Sum of All Parts

Photographer: Lorenzo Zandri / @lorenzozandri

From the Architect: "On the serrated coastline of Fistral Bay, a new residence sits on top of a tiered terrace garden on cliffs of Esplanade Road. As the clients’ home and workspace, the three-story building is a project in being inventive with a minimal palette.

"The house has a single-pitch zinc roof, untainted and bright-rolled. Paying homage to the former roofline, the facade is demarcated by a staggering horizontal ‘plimsoll’ line. It separates the roughcast render at lower levels with the smooth render above. Monolithic and modest in material, the textured lime render with the silver metals intends to be a refinement of British seaside architecture.

"The floor plan is informed by the sloping terrain of the site. The sculptural plywood stairs leading from the ground floor bring natural light and connection to the main living space upstairs. Long steel beams with an exposed soffit allows for unobstructed views around the 13-foot-high living space, and from the horizon of the sea to the lawn of the south-facing back garden. On the top floor, the screening room and library with a skylight offer an intimate setting to read and relax.

"The brief was to use everyday fixtures and objects to create something special—instilling the quality of the utilitarian and industrial aesthetic into a domestic setting. Internally, the house celebrates local materials by featuring bare concrete blocks, revealing the beauty in stone masonry of the region. With exposed galvanized conduits, ductwork, and industrial light fittings, the architecture is truthful to the unembellished infrastructure that powers it."