Our brief was to build a generous, new two storey family home on the site of a modest West Cork farm house and associated out-buildings, creating as much shelter from the prevailing Atlantic winds as possible, whilst making the most of the dramatic seascape. We fell in love with the ad-hoc farm buildings that had evolved over generations and worked with them placing the new house to make the most of the cliff’ed coastline and dramatic sea view, whilst also creating a sheltered courtyard. With local materials and labour, we combined traditional building methodology with crisp modern detailing. Stone from demolished farm buildings and walls was set against new honed limestone from a nearby quarry. Polished concrete floors throughout the ground floor compliment Dinesen floorboards on the first floor to form a calm backdrop to the fittings, the furnishings and the flow of space. The house is highly efficient, with excellent thermal properties, robust detailing, air-tightness and geothermal renewable energy.