Modern house with multiple levels and large windows, set on a grassy lawn with trees in the background, under a partly cloudy sky.

Living room with exposed wooden beams, large windows with blinds, gray sofa, decorative pillows, a coffee table with magazines, and a modern chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

Modern house with curved rooflines and a moss-covered roof, surrounded by lush landscaping, overlooking a body of water with hills and cloudy sky in the background.

Living room with large windows showing a green outdoor landscape, wooden ceiling and support beams, various furniture including a wicker sofa and tables, potted plants, and artwork on the wall.

Modern house with multiple sections, large windows, and a curved roof, set in a lush green landscape with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.

A bedroom with large windows showing a scenic landscape of water and cliffs outside. The bed has a blue blanket and various pillows, with a small dog lying on it. The room has white walls, wooden beams, and some framed pictures. There is a telescope

Seaward: revisit

Located on the cliffs above the South Devon coast, this striking and beautiful home received an RIBA Town & Country Design Award and a commendation in The Daily Telegraph / Homebuilding & Renovating Awards in 2002.

The highly visible and sensitive cliff top location called for a design that sat in harmony with the landscape - the solution was to design a building that followed the contours of the surrounding ground. The house design steps down the naturally sloping landscape and through the use of an innovative waveform roof shape, maintains a low-profile below the tree line behind.

The house consists of two masonry cubes - one for the parents and one for the children - joined with a central living space as the family focal point.

The living space is a dramatic single-storey, barrel-vaulted room with a central glazed roof lantern to throw light deep into the room. The exposed green oak frame allows large areas of glazing to maximise the stunning views of the sea and the town below.

The muted colours of natural materials like lime render, oak cladding and moss sedum roof finishes minimises the impact of the building on its sensitive rural setting.

The house also combines large panels of glass and matt finished stainless steel roofing to reflect the sky and surrounding landscape.