A sustainable home for a retired couple, fit for now as well as the future. The client was keen to pursue a strategy for an 'upside down house' with the generous entertaining and living space located on the first floor to take advantage of the panoramic views surrounding the site. The proposals seek to utilise existing landscaping features and the efficient use of the building’s form in order to mitigate the impact of the scheme upon its immediate and wider context. The new build consists of an enlarged building footprint and strong rectilinear base; the pediment of the building consists of a triangular block with a steep roof pitch in order to facilitate the occupiable roofspace. The steep raking roof line takes note of the many agricultural buildings within the surrounding context. Agricultural buildings are designed with absolute efficiency in mind; the proposed house looks to adopt a similar domestic efficiency in order to create a building sensitive to its surroundings. The footprint of the scheme has increased from the existing property, with a large rectilinear block plan better orientated in order to take advantage of passive solar gains. To the south of the plan an open single-storey car port has been introduced. As opposed to this acting as a standalone suburban garage, it was felt this element should be intrinsic to the overall design. A single triangular mass forms the pediment to the building, a steep raking pitch serves a functional and deliberately agricultural purpose. The ridge line is reduced by over a metre from the existing, with the steep profile allows for the upper storey to be inhabited. A dormer is proposed to further facilitate usable space, orientated towards the Mendip Hills in order to benefit from the site’s expansive views. A circular window is formed within the west elevation of the building, with a direct alignment to Glastonbury Tor.