Furzy Close, Polzeath, Cornwall By: ARCO2 Architecture Furzy Close is a striking contemporary residence situated in Polzeath, North Cornwall. Acquired in early 2015, the site originally housed a modest mid-20th-century dormer bungalow. The vision was clear: to replace this with a sustainable, low-energy holiday retreat, carefully tailored to its coastal setting. Design Concept The ambition for increased accommodation necessitated a full two-storey dwelling to replace the existing 230m² bungalow. This proposed a significant increase in massing, requiring sensitive design to mitigate visual impact and to respect neighbouring amenity, particularly the sea views currently enjoyed by adjacent properties. Early in the design process, the team identified a potential conflict: positioning a two-storey structure centrally on the plot would obstruct the sea views of the property located directly behind. Although preserving this view was not a planning requirement, the design team saw an opportunity to balance the client’s needs with neighbourly consideration — a gesture that ultimately shaped the architectural narrative of the project. The massing strategy evolved as follows: Avoiding Central Blockage A centrally positioned two-storey form would entirely obscure the rear neighbour’s coastal view. Strategic Upper Floor Shift By offsetting the upper storey eastwards, the design reclaims this view corridor … Continue reading Sustainable Sea View Living in North Cornwall