A fossil-shaped eco home in the rolling countryside of Devon
When it came to designing this home, it’s hardly surprising that the owners were compelled to take cues from the plot’s surroundings. The rolling countryside of Blackdown Hills, which became a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1991, is a breathtaking sight to behold. Outdoor enthusiasts in particular will revel in its peaceful position in Devon, where small farms, deep valleys and winding lanes combine to create a wonderful backdrop for long walks. The site itself also includes more than seven private acres of pretty wild meadowland and bordering fields.
The five-bedroom home has been built using chert – a locally sourced stone typical of the neighbouring vernacular – while the shell-like roof has been crafted with different species of timber, carefully selected to chime with the encircling landscape. Inside, a spiraling series of living spaces unfold, in which curved ceilings create a dramatic sense of volume. The interiors are bright thanks to the generous amounts of glazing used for the southerly façade. The views from here, which look out to the meadows, are rather delightful too.
And when the owners said they wanted the house to be as “off-grid” as possible, they meant it. Not only is the home’s fossil-inspired curve visually striking, but it has been fitted with solar panels that face the west and south to make the most of the sun’s rays. Water is heated with a solar thermal system, while a ground-source heat pump (the running costs of which have been offset by the installation of custom-made curved solar panels) provides energy for the underfloor heating. And then there’s the sunroom, which has been cleverly conceived to double as a solar and heat collector. It makes a lovely place to sit and watch the world go by during the warmer months too.
RELATED ON THE MODERN HOUSE
Listing of the Week: a Norfolk beauty that ushers the natural world in
A family home in Hackney, lovingly tended inside and out
Zen and the art of mindset maintenance in a former warehouse in east London
A duo’s dramatic warehouse conversion hidden in west London
Inside two carbon-negative zero-waste homes in Walthamstow
Skye’s the limit at this home in a serene settlement in the Scottish Highlands
An apartment with star quality in a converted recording studio in west London
A mid-century marvel in Stafford that stands the test of time
A hotel with staying power overlooking the Atlantic in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland
A mid-century gem among the treetops on the Dulwich Estate in Crystal Palace