Pivot House is an exceptionally low energy, low impact family home in the Norfolk countryside. The house sits outside any settlement boundary, hence the design meets the very challenging criteria of Paragraph 79 (now Paragraph 84) of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The form of the home originates from the random nature of tree growth. A parabolic arrangement of beams flies from a central spine, inspired by an existing tree at the centre of the courtyard. The innovative timber framed structure fits within a realistic budget, by using locally sourced air dried timber. The original site was neglected, made up of various scrub plants such as nettles and brambles, and building rubble at the entrance. Biodiversity on site was enhanced, with new orchard planting and screening to the North. The building was also lowered into the landscape, truly rooting into the natural surroundings. The main building was constructed using flint gabions, quarried within a few miles of the site and using reject flints. The size of the flints is variable throughout the building, to mark different zones. This helps the building to blend into the surroundings, while allowing more or less permeability through the skin.