Our client had purchased an existing property on the Devon coast that did not lend itself well to further extension in line with their brief. IWe developed a scheme that created a new build house with a reduced visual impact to the original, and even though larger, is more sympathetic to the surrounding landscape. The overriding guide from the client was that the building should be ‘more Defender than Range Rover’, meaning materials should be robust and simple. Stone is used both inside and out. Slate tiles and timber cladding enhance the uncomplicated nature of the property. The property is broken down into three interconnected buildings that nestle together in a line overlooking the beach, with dramatic views to the headland and sea. Internal spaces flow together, with large windows always giving the sense of a clear connection to the external environment. The house is well insulated, with thick walls, and utilises a number of sustainable energy sources.