London and Lisbon-based architecture studio De Rosee Sa has completed The Cornwall Retreat, a distinctive coastal residence in Cornwall, UK, that prioritizes "quietness and subtlety" over the typical sleek aesthetic of modern beach homes. The house was designed for a family of avid surfers on a cliff edge overlooking the sea on Cornwall's north coast, featuring barn-like volumes and natural materials that seamlessly blend with the surrounding landscape.
The design consists of two gabled volumes that deliberately mimic traditional agricultural barns, finished with a tactile palette of timber, clay render, stone, and tiles. Senior project architect George Yallop explained that the intention was to avoid anything too sleek or harsh, instead focusing on tones and textures that allow the house to almost disappear into the landscape. "From the start, the design was about quietness and subtlety, with tones and textures that allow the house to blend into its surroundings and almost disappear into the landscape," Yallop told reporters.
The architectural approach deliberately recalls the character of local agricultural buildings that traditionally occupied the area before bright white holiday homes became commonplace. Yallop emphasized that the intention was for the house to feel grounded, discreet, and genuinely connected to the landscape. This philosophy guided every aspect of the design, from material selection to the building's positioning on the site.
Across its three floors, The Cornwall Retreat's material palette gradually transitions from a heavier, earthier rendered base to lighter, timber-clad "barns" above. The design takes full advantage of the site's natural slope, with the partially subterranean base visible only from the sea-facing side of the home. This strategic positioning avoids creating a dominant presence when viewed from the street and neighboring properties.
The lower ground floor houses three bedrooms alongside a practical wet room area specifically designed for changing and storing surfing equipment. The floors and walls in this area are clad in terrazzo tiles made from recycled stone, emphasizing the home's commitment to sustainable materials. A paved pathway with an outdoor shower leads directly from the wet room to the home's rear garden and toward the beach beyond, creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor coastal living.
The ground floor features a spacious living, dining, and kitchen area that is loosely divided by a large shelving unit positioned where the two barn-like volumes meet. The walls throughout these spaces are finished in clay render that has been left unpainted to emphasize its uneven, natural appearance. This material choice reinforces the home's connection to traditional building methods and natural textures.
Large openings on the ground floor face out to sea, including sliding windows with bench-like sills that overlook planters in the dining space and sliding glass doors that open onto a garden terrace from the living area. These generous openings frame spectacular ocean views while maintaining the building's understated character. The living space also features a Portland stone fireplace that serves as a focal point for family gatherings.
The smaller first floor contains two bedrooms tucked into the eastern volume's roof void, including the main ensuite that is strategically positioned to face the sea. The walls in these upper-level spaces have been finished with white painted timber planks to create a lighter, more airy feeling. Throughout the house, timber ceilings have been left exposed and painted white, incorporating skylights above the kitchen and dining space as well as in the upper bedrooms to maximize natural light.
The home's finishes are complemented by carefully selected details including oak carpentry, the Portland stone fireplace, and recycled, reconstituted stone used in the bathrooms. Yallop noted that the material choices prioritize simplicity, natural variation, and a gentle, relaxed elegance that reflects the surrounding landscape while avoiding anything overly polished or showy.
"The ceilings were designed with exposed beams and boarded surfaces that will gently shift and settle over time, giving a more relaxed and beach-influenced character rather than a highly finished appearance," Yallop explained. He added that details such as avoiding trims at junctions and setting joinery pieces into clay-finished walls further contribute to the informal, crafted feel that defines the project.
The Cornwall Retreat represents a thoughtful response to coastal living that prioritizes integration with the natural environment over bold architectural statements. The project joins other recent Cornwall developments that emphasize sensitivity to local context, including a home for an artist and surfer by Of Architecture and Will Gamble Architects' renovation of a holiday home perched on a rock stack. Photography of the completed project was captured by Peter Molloy, showcasing how the building successfully achieves its goal of quiet integration with the dramatic Cornish coastline.
