Wilderness at heart. Wilderness at home.
Step straight off the verandah and stroll amongst towering trees. Or take a window seat, and feel suspended in the Tamar Valley views. Darkwood is simple for the most part, but clever when it matters. It’s not detached from its surroundings, but part of it. The house steps down the steep hill to closely match the ground line, allowing it to stay connected to nature. And what remarkable nature it is, with views over the river, through the trees, and to the beaches and bays beyond.
Clever, not posh.
Our clients wanted a home with a small, sustainable footprint and smart use of space. From a raw plate steel kitchen bench and splashbacks to durable flooring, nothing is too fussy.
A tin metal skin proved to be robust, low maintenance and cost-effective. Then, we timber clad the outer areas you’d come in contact with so that they felt more tactile, almost like joinery or furniture. Macrocarpa, a plantation timber, kept this sustainable as did solar panels, good insulation and a wetback heating system.
Back to nature.
Our response was relatively low-tech, stripped back and simple. We prioritised the natural surrounds, natural light and hard-wearing natural materials to fit the brief. A folded, sculptural roof lets light flood the living area, and built-in furniture fits the small footprint, with deep windows allowing you to sit, relax and feel part of the view.
