fades away.” The black resin fl oor adds to that sense of calm and comfort. “It feels really nice underfoot, almost like a cushion,” she laughs, “but it’s a nightmare to clean. It shows every mark, especially sand!” The concrete on the ground fl oor was treated


as a fi nish in its own right, and a specialist concrete artist was brought in to refi ne the surfaces. Using a simple but effective technique with a ping pong ball, he carefully smoothed the tie-holes, giving the walls a softer, more considered feel.


Jane herself designed the chic, minimalist kitchen with the help of Hyde + Hyde. It is deliberately low-key, tucked behind matt plywood and Furbo panels, so it blends into the space rather than dominating it. “When you are in the space, you don’t want to be looking at the kitchen,” says Jane. Elsewhere, bespoke joinery by AdHoc Designs


in Cardiff, as well as Hyde Object adds to the sense of calm. In the bedrooms and especially above the fi replace, bespoke carpentry hides the television, keeping the focus fi rmly on the architecture and the views. Jane’s long connection to this stretch of coast is woven into every aspect of the design. Rather than compete with the landscape, the house responds to it. Solid and protective at ground level, lighter and more open above, it mirrors the experience of being on the edge of the land. Concrete provides strength and shelter, while timber introduces warmth and a sense of calm. Together, they create a home that feels confi dent and contemporary, yet entirely at ease in its setting.


Rather than compete with the landscape, the house responds to it.


This home represents far more than the end of a long building project. It is the result of years of thinking, remembering, and slowly shaping an idea. The house brings together family, place and a shared desire to create something that would last. It refl ects where they have come from, how they live now and what they value most. Most importantly, the house works as a family home – and future retirement home for Jane’s father. A place where new memories are being made. Creating that before even the couple’s children arrived (now aged eight, six and four) was an extraordinary act of faith. Yet for Jane, it is the quiet moments that ‘make’ the building. “What I love most is sitting in the cantilever and watching nature. I could sit and watch the waves against the rocks for hours. You see dolphins, birds of prey… It’s all about nature and tranquillity.”


This house on the edge is not just a self-build success story. It is a reminder of how powerful a sense of place can be, and how thoughtful design can deepen our connection to the landscapes we love.


33


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68