Tellingly, four of the six shortlisted projects for the RIBA Stirling Prize this year focused on housing with the United Kingdom’s foremost architectural award going to a retirement daycare facility, the John Morden Centre. The projects seemed to offer a beacon of hope “amidst a backdrop of housing shortages, growing inequality, and economic uncertainties” by demonstrating how well-designed buildings could “offer genuinely inspiring solutions to our most pressing problems,” as Muyiwa Oki, president of the RIBA noted. Awards such as these, by shedding a light on what is to be considered “purposeful architecture” are prescient reminders of a society’s needs, and the agency architecture holds in addressing them.

On the other hand, sister awards presented by the RIBA that recognise ‘one-off excellence’ allow British architects the freedom to experiment, to innovate, and to think critically about what and how they are building. In that vein, this year’s shortlist of the RIBA House of the Year award offers a glimpse into how local fraternities are attempting to address overarching and global problems. In the tenth year since the award’s inception, the shortlisted projects highlight how immediate and small solutions can make a big difference. Interestingly, most of the projects go beyond what was once traditionally considered a residential project, hinting at the evolution of architectural thought. For instance, the shortlist includes, among others, a model for collective rural living, a home that tackles the issue of land shortage in cities, and a refurbishment project each providing a specific solution that responds to its context.

Jury Chair, Dido Milne, said of this year’s shortlist, "Localism is a recurring theme, with architects engaging with the local vernacular without being slaves to tradition, and local sourcing of materials targeting both embodied and operational carbon to deliver genuinely sustainable design.” If the idea of localism and sustainability is to be addressed as wider issues in architectural practice, perhaps it is necessary to act small and beginning, as it were, with one’s home. This notion of localism is highlighted in Studio Weave’s extension of a cottage in Devon on a secluded property in the Blackdown Hills. A double-storey artists' retreat, the addition completes the revival of a home for a family based between London and the country.

Sitting discreetly within the quiet countryside, the extension seeks to transform the traditional Devonshire stone cottage typology. Drawing on the historic origins of the site as a local sandpit, Made of Sand adds a new layer of meaning to the existing cottage by considerately responding to its surroundings. Modest in scale, the flexible, open-plan spaces of the studio contrast the otherwise boxed layout of the existing cottage. The artists’ retreat is thus designed to offer occupants an independent space on the peaceful property that is enveloped by greenery.

A path along the rear hillside creates a distinct entryway for the studio space, with the interiors framing the natural landscape as part of the design. Diffused natural light filters into the spaces through clerestory windows on the ground floor and glazing on the upper floors. The bedroom suite opens onto a large wildflower meadow at the front of the property, while on the upper level, the living spaces seem to extend into the foliage with wide glazing panels that heighten a sense of connection to nature. With a focus on detailing and technical precision, the project was the result of a close collaboration between the architects, the client’s local cob building specialist, and local craftsmen.

The nuanced approach to craftsmanship is showcased in almost every detail in the residential design. The material language of the wood architecture employed in the exterior is followed through in the interior, with Douglas fir panels forming the wall linings as well as built-in shelving and window seats. To complement the homogenous use of wood in the exterior and interior, earthy hues were introduced with rust-coloured clay plaster walls and handmade terracotta tiles. The rhythmic pattern of the Douglas fir ceiling soffits is echoed in the timber battening and wall storage, underscoring the feeling of harmony and cohesion. Further, the interiors are heavily insulated to ensure a sense of seclusion within. The façade design, with delightful geometric detailing, uses Red Western Cedar panelling adding to the rustic charm of the extension. The weathered wooden façade, silvery against the rough-hewn stone cottage, blends in harmoniously with the surrounding woodland, further embedding the new structure in its context. To reduce waste, the architects decided to leave the structural components on display sans facia, adding another layer of visual intrigue, thus reinforcing the enduring value of handicraft to the design.

The rustic, warm material palette with clay, terracotta, brass and douglas fir plywood—the latter quite unusual for a contemporary residence in the UK—create a cosy environment for the occupants of the retreat. The feeling of being in a restful, cosy cabin is further enhanced by the juxtaposition of the interior design with diffused light, all set against the framed greenery of the hills. As Je Ahn, Director of Studio Weave explains, "The contrast between materials, old and new, in and out are foregrounded to create a distinct sense of rest and relaxation in the new spaces.”

The addition of the studio space to the existing home, which reinterprets the rustic aesthetic of a country cottage plays off its surrounding landscape and its built context by balancing technique and materiality. Made of Sand, all of 85 sq.m. when considering its interventive area, creates an architectural space where material and craft are celebrated, and sensitive, contextual design is at the helm. From the clay walls softly curving into door frames, to the hand-cut timber wall joinery, the project demonstrates thoughtful care and attention to detail. The design here showcases that the first step to creating a sensitive architecture that responds to the users’ needs is to start with considering how we build, and what we build with.

Project Details

Name: Made of Sand
Location: Blackdown Hills, Devon, United Kingdom
Area: 85 sqm
Year of Completion: 2021
Architect: Studio Weave
Collaborators:                
Structure: JJO Associates
Interiors: Natalie Silk
Contractor: David Joyce Cob and Lime
Joiners: Farid Adhamy, Harry Bailey