In response to location

Words by Hannah Tapping | Images by Hugh Hastings

Enhancing the lived experience, while respecting the environment, lies at the heart of CSA Architects’ approach.

Home is where life happens; a place where families grow and memories are made. In this sense, architecture is not merely the art of designing a property, it’s about creating beautiful yet functional buildings that work for the people who use them. As a design-led RIBA Chartered Practice with over 35 years of experience, CSA Architects sets great store by not only designing sustainable, robust buildings that respect the Cornish environment, but also by the fact that said buildings should delight and inspire. One of CSA Architects’ latest projects, which boasts an enviable position on the banks of Restronguet Creek near Truro, is testament to its ethos. 

CSA Architects were approached to create a family home on a steeply sloping site that would make the most of its beautiful views across Restronguet Creek. The design needed to be visually sensitive to sit comfortably in the National Landscape (formerly AONB) whilst maximising the views and the useable amenity space. Penlowen is an expression of contemporary coastal living – its toes-in-the-water position gives uninterrupted views across the creek accompanied by a soundtrack of chinking boat halyards and voices from The Pandora Inn drifting across the water – and CSA Architects were very adept in capturing that lifestyle in its design. 

Director Dan Meek shares how his initial impressions of the site influenced the overall design process: “It’s impossible not to be inspired by such a beautiful place. The design concept was simply to respond to, and make the most of the location. By adopting this approach, the resulting building can be contemporary yet rooted in its surroundings. The two do not need to be opposed.”

It’s clear that the landscape played a foundational role in this project and early thinking around the site’s natural elements guided the architectural approach. A landscape architect was involved at the very start from the first sketch layouts which is not unusual at CSA Architects as landscape-led projects are at the core of their bespoke design responses. One of the key design aims with Penlowen was to ensure a positive connection with the surrounding landscape, the water, and the sloping garden.

CSA Architects’ reputation for high quality architecture has been developed over decades and not least due to their considered approach to the planning process. With regard to this, Dan says that communication is key. “While supporting documents are essential, nothing beats talking to people so they can understand the proposals and how they respond to the specific place and surroundings. We took the time to speak with neighbours, parish councillors and the planning department to make sure we could explain the design ethos, but also respond to any concerns people might have had. We see this as a further opportunity to make our buildings the very best they can be.”

Having a highly skilled project team was also essential in achieving a quality and cohesive build. “Working with local consultants over many years, we have extensive knowledge of what it takes to design and build in Cornwall and we’ve all worked on sloping sites by the water which bring their own unique challenges!” adds Dan.

Cornwall’s terrain and planning landscape are famously demanding and so some key strategies were needed so that CSA Architects could respond to both the technical and aesthetic challenges of the site. The choice of materials for the build was particularly thoughtful, ensuring they responded appropriately to both setting and longevity. Designing for such a steep, tightly constrained site in a National Landscape brought unique complexities, which CSA Architects had to navigate both creatively and technically. The approach was to use simple and refined building forms, combining natural stone, timber cladding and slate roofing that settle well into the sloping landscape. Stepping down the slope, these forms create a terrace for the upper floor bedrooms and study, and the generous cantilevered terrace to the ground floor living spaces. By aligning the building with the contours of the landform, all the living spaces, the bedrooms and the study have spectacular views which also maximises natural light and, on the ground floor, full height sliding doors open onto the terrace.

The immediate relationship with the water shaped many of the design decisions as Dan explains: “Due to the steeply sloping site and the location of the access lane, the house had to be positioned next to the water. The design of a cantilevered terrace in front of the house allows movement out over the creek, while a glass balustrade creates a seamless connection to the water and landscape beyond, offering uninterrupted views.” Interior and exterior materiality are tightly interwoven in this project, supporting the home’s character and cohesion. “The most striking example for me,” says Dan, “is the tone of the stone floor which extends from the living space to the terrace and how this works perfectly with the water beyond.”

Sustainability guided every stage of the design and construction, from energy efficiency to site impact, resulting in a low-energy, high-performance building. Dan explains further: “We followed a fabric-first approach to reduce heat loss, and we installed a ground source heat pump and mechanical ventilation heat recovery to further improve the building’s efficiency and sustainability.”

“This project has really helped develop CSA Architects’ approach to sustainable development. We care about the environmental impact that our projects have, whether we are designing a Passivhaus certified one-off dwelling, a large residential development or a small domestic extension. By default, we specify lower embodied carbon materials and sustainable technologies and, importantly, we incorporate early-stage design tools such as designPH for Sketchup and easyPH to develop designs that follow Passivhaus principles to reduce energy use and maximise comfort.” 

Looking back from completion, Dan reflects on a favourite part of the building; the stone plinth which creates a covered space that transitions well between the internal and external spaces: “I love the way this works from inside the living area, but also when looking back at the house across the water. When you compare the visual that we submitted to planning, and the final building, I feel it proves that our design strategy was correct. The owners have told us they love the building and have made it their home.”

CSA Architects provide full architectural services on a range of projects including private homes, residential developments and commercial and leisure projects.  

csa-architects.co.uk