This new home designed by Grainge Architects, has recently been completed by Bovey Construction. The ‘Longhouse’ in Launceston responded to the client’s desire for a contemporary interpretation of a traditional Cornish building form.
This bold building on a prominent site references the local vernacular with a strong form and natural slate hanging. Set within the garden of Trecarne, a substantial Edwardian home, the steeply sloping site is enclosed on all sides by large trees and mature vegetation offering privacy, while the siting in the wider context affords distance views over the town and to the surrounding countryside. Part of the intention for the design was to create a strong relationship between the interior and the natural, wilderness of the heavily vegetated site, with large areas of full height glazing allowing a visual connection with the garden. These also took advantage of the more distant aspects.
Grainge Architects became involved in the scheme following the refusal of a previous planning application by another designer. The site was unlocked following a pre-application dialogue with the planning authority to establish the appropriate development constraints for the site. The design was progressed in response to specific site opportunities identified as part of a rigorous contextual analysis.
This 4 bedroom family home has a strong environmental focus, incorporating a number of sustainable technologies including solar thermal and photo-voltaic panels, and utilising the heat output of a Rayburn in the heart of the living space to supplement the heating system. The building is orientated to make best use of the site’s aspect and location whilst the building’s form is derived from the traditional Cornish vernacular which is by nature a sustainable and inherently efficient plan form. The final result being a modern and welcoming family home in an idyllic setting.
