The Island beach house, which has been renovated by London-based practice Will Gamble Architects, sits perched on a 70-foot-high rocky outcrop on Towan Beach at Newquay, Cornwall.
The distinctive 260m2 house is cut off when the tide is high, only accessible via a private suspension bridge. It features a striking red roof and rough-cast rendered elevations, and over the years, has been painted by many artists as well as being written about.
The house was shortlisted for this year’s AJ Retrofit & Reuse Awards.
The client approached Will Gamble Architects to double the bungalow’s footprint without changing its visual appearance from the coastline.
While retaining its unique character and conserving its heritage, the building needed reorientating to improve its relationship with the island. It also needed extensive thermal upgrades to reduce the energy consumption.
High-performance insulation has been introduced where possible throughout, while other interventions improve airtightness. Other sustainability measures include PVs, underfloor heating and rainwater harvesting – also helping to minimise surface water discharge over the cliff edge.
The practice has added living accommodation in the existing roof space without altering its height or form. Internally, ceilings have been lowered in parts to accommodate new floor areas within the vaulted spaces, while new bedrooms have been carved out of projecting gable ends.
Floor-to-ceiling glass frames panoramic views of the neighbouring harbour.
To the rear and hidden from the neighbouring coastline, a new intervention sits within the valley of the old roof, featuring red cladding and hangs over the cliff edge to accommodate a new main bedroom.
In addition, a tower with floating roof sits above the roofline. This is a reinterpretation of the neighbouring historic watch tower, Huers Hut.
The architect has reconfigured the floorplan throughout the house, but retained existing window and door openings to conserve the external appearance.
Architect’s view
To meet the brief, previous architects had proposed adding a new floor by significantly raising the roof, which would have fundamentally changed the house’s character and appearance.
We extended into the existing roof space, without altering its height or form. Internally, the ceilings were lowered in parts to accommodate new floor areas within the vaulted spaces. New bedrooms were carved out of projecting gable ends with floor-to-ceiling glass that frames panoramic views of the neighbouring harbour.
To the rear, and out of sight from the neighbouring coastline, a contemporary addition sits within the valley of the roof; its glazed façade steps to address views of the Atlantic. This intervention, with its striking red cladding, hangs over the cliff edge and accommodates a new master bedroom.
A tower, with a floating roof, projects above the roofline. This is a contemporary reinterpretation of the neighbouring Huers Hut, a historic watch tower used to spot shoals of pilchards. Its occupants would shout ‘Heva Heva’ (here they are!) as the pilchards entered the bay.
The floor plan was significantly reconfigured while retaining the existing window and door openings to preserve the buillding’s external appearance. Along the ground floor, the key living spaces were opened up so that the kitchen, dining room and living room address the sea.
The original front door was moved to an alternative location, adjacent to the suspension bridge. The old arched front door was replaced with a picture window that frames views of the garden and the sea. The arched detail has been repeated throughout the interiors, over door openings and key features within the property.
The building was upgraded to improve its thermal performance. Ten solar panels were installed on the flat roof to generate electricity while rainwater harvesting tanks irrigate the surrounding garden, and minimise surface water discharge over the cliff edge.
Will Gamble, director, Will Gamble Architects
Project data
Location The Island, Newquay, Cornwall
Start on site September 2023
Completion date December 2024
Gross internal floor area 255m2
Form of contract or procurement route JCT Intermediate 2016
Construction cost £800,000
Construction cost per m2 £3,150
Architect Will Gamble Architects
Client Private
Structural engineer MBA Consulting
Principal designer Will Gamble Architects
Approved building inspector Stroma Building Control
Main contractor RKH Construction
CAD software used Vectorworks