Water Farm is an exceptional five-bedroom off-grid home, nestled in the Suffolk countryside, that seamlessly combines high-performance sustainability with sensitive design. Its iconic timber-clad roof and planted central courtyard mark it as a beacon of low-impact, high-performing rural architecture. The home is situated in the Dedham Valley National Landscape (previously AONB). Designed for a young family of five moving home to the family farm, Water Farm balances functionality with visual impact. The house is arranged around a central glazed courtyard, offering views towards the expansive countryside outside, and the vibrant domestic life within. Each ground-floor space incorporates a stepped threshold, responding to the sloping topography while creating a hierarchy of living spaces. This motif is echoed in the origami-like roof, with its undulating waves giving the home its name, ‘Water Farm.’ Local and natural materials were selected to reduce embodied carbon while harmonising with the landscape. This sensitive approach ties the home to the land, while its striking design sets a benchmark for 21st-century environmental architecture. The environmental strategy behind Water Farm raises the bar for sustainable design to address the climate crisis. Solar gains are moderated through carefully positioned glazing and shutters, while the central courtyard enables passive ventilation and daylight. A balanced palette of materials enhances thermal efficiency—heavyweight floors provide thermal mass, while the lightweight, hyper-insulated timber frame minimizes heat loss. Local and natural materials further reduce the building’s carbon footprint. Energy and water systems underpin the home’s off-grid credentials. A rooftop solar array with high-capacity batteries, paired with a Ground Source Heat Pump, supplies much of the energy and heating demand, supported by a biofuel generator in winter. A borehole with filtration delivers drinking water, and wastewater is treated on-site with a Klargester Biodisc. Moving into the house has enabled the clients to join the family equestrian business, running on the site since 1975. It has also enriched their children's lives, giving them a love for the farm and living closer to nature. Water Farm redefines rural living, integrating visual sensitivity with cutting-edge sustainability. The house exemplifies how thoughtful design can fulfill modern needs while nurturing the natural and cultural heritage of a site and its inhabitants.