Treetops
Portreath, Cornwall
Treetops is a 200m² two-storey family home set high on a hillside above the Cornish village of Portreath. Positioned and oriented to take full advantage of its elevated setting, the house enjoys stunning westerly views across the village and out to sea – capturing the sunset each evening.
The brief was to increase the internal floor area of the existing bungalow to better suit the needs of a growing family while remaining sensitive to neighbouring properties. The resulting design introduces a modest first-floor extension with a shallow-pitched roof that preserves a low-lying profile, avoiding visual dominance from the surrounding landscape.
Entry to the home reveals a generous double-height hallway, creating a sense of arrival and spatial drama. The remodelled ground floor accommodates four bedrooms, a family bathroom, a utility room, a snug, and a new stairwell. Above, the new first floor houses a bright, open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area with a west-facing balcony, as well as a pantry and WC.
The extension takes the form of a simple, elongated volume that rests atop the original bungalow. Locally-sourced cedar clads the new upper storey, chosen both for its minimal environmental impact and its ability to weather gracefully to a silvery grey – allowing the home to blend into its natural setting.
From the client:
“I asked Timothy M. to prepare drawings showing the addition of a first floor to an existing bungalow. He did this while communicating all of the different options possible and then prepared extra drawings showing the options. On narrowing the choices down he prepared 3D drawings until we arrived at a happy decision.”
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