Concept imageHouse, Windlass Head, 2023 (Sample)
Headland House
A long glass house on the west cliff of Windlass Head, sheltered by one stone wall.
Cabin, Cistus Hill, Built 2020 (Sample)
Cistus Cabin
A small stone cabin high on Cistus Hill, stepped into the slope and shut tight when empty.
Concept imageThe brief
The client owned a steep lot at the far end of Goldhour Terrace. No car can reach it. The only way in is a path of 62 steps from the road.
The brief was one room to work in and one to sleep in. The hill is dry in summer, so the cabin had to stand up to fire. It would also sit empty for weeks at a time.
- Client
- A private client
- Size
- 640 square feet on two levels
- Finished
- 2020
- Access
- A path of 62 steps from Goldhour Terrace
- Built of
- Local stone, clay tile and a steel shutter
- Power and water
- A solar panel and a rain tank
Site plan
Site plan
The cabin sits above the road, at the end of a stepped path.
The idea
We set the cabin into the slope. The back is dug in, and the front opens to the west. The floor steps down once, so the bed looks out over the desk, and the desk looks out over the bay.
The cut showed how little we needed. One window, as wide as the room, does the work of four. A steel shutter slides across it when the cabin is empty.
Plan
Floor plan
One room on two levels: the bed above, the desk below.
Section
Section through the slope
The back is dug into the hill. The floor steps down toward the view.
Sun study
Follow the sun
At noon in June the eaves shade the whole window. By evening the sun reaches the back wall.
What was built
The cabin was finished in 2020. It is 640 square feet. The walls are local stone, the roof is clay tile, and the eaves are wide enough to shade the window at noon.
Every piece came up the path by hand or by cable. A solar panel gives it power, and a tank under the floor stores rain. With the shutter closed, it shows no glass at all.
Concept imageFrom outside: At dusk 
Concept imageInside: Bed above, desk below 
Concept imageModel: The study model
Elevation
West elevation
One window, with the steel shutter drawn half closed.
Next project
All five projectsConcept image
Concept imageTower, Hawser Quay, In progress (Sample)Evenfall
A 38-floor tower on the old harbor, drawn as 112 houses stacked. In progress for Orrin Vale.
Concept imageBoathouse, Hawser Quay, 2019 (Sample)Hawser Boathouse
A boathouse for the sailing club on the north basin, with a roof that lifts toward the water.