Botus Fleming, Cornwall
CROOKEDY PARK
A HOME MADE FOR RURAL LIFE
Crookedy Park replaces a small dormer bungalow in the countryside near Botus Fleming, Cornwall that no longer made the most of its generous rural setting. Surrounded by open land and long views across the family’s own fields, the project focused on creating a simpler, more sustainable way of living that felt closely connected to the outdoors.
The new home was designed to support a more self sufficient lifestyle, with spaces shaped around family life, growing food and enjoying the surrounding landscape. Replacing the poorly insulated original building created the opportunity to design a warm, energy efficient home that opened more naturally towards the garden and countryside beyond.
As experienced Architects Cornwall, we create bespoke rural homes across Cornwall that combine sustainable design, practical living and contemporary architecture carefully tailored to each landscape.
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WHAT NEEDED TO CHANGE - THE WORK AHEAD
The budget was tight, so the design needed to stay focused. Every space had to work hard and support daily routines. No wasted rooms. No long corridors.
The location sits high on the slope, which brings beautiful views but also strong weather. Warmth needed to stay inside all year round, and fresh air needed to move through the rooms without losing heat.
The family also needed space to work from home. A studio and a practical kitchen and utility were essential to support their own butchery and garden produce. The challenge was to design a simple building that performed well, kept costs down, and gave the family the life they wanted in the countryside.
SHAPED BY LAND AND LIGHT - HOW THE DESIGN CAME TOGETHER
The new home keeps a compact shape to save cost and energy. The main living space opens straight to the garden, with a terrace where they can all sit outside and look down over the land. An open plan living downstairs brings everyone together. A studio sits close by so working from home never feels cut off from family life. A utility and plant space are part of the main structure but finished in durable agricultural materials to stay practical and affordable.
Upstairs, four bedrooms give everyone their own space. High level play and work areas add a playful twist and make the most of the volume inside the roof. Materials are simple and familiar in the countryside. Timber, fibre cement, and render go with the agricultural landscape and are easy to care for.
A LOW ENERGY HOME FOR THE FUTURE - WHAT THE HOME OFFERS
Crookedy Park is comfortable through every season. High levels of insulation and airtight construction reduce heat loss and keep energy use low. A reused biomass boiler and thermal store provide reliable heating using timber from the land itself. The home embraces solar gain through south and west facing windows, storing warmth in the concrete floor and reducing the need for extra heating. Fresh filtered air flows through the rooms, helping the family enjoy a healthy indoor environment while keeping energy bills down. It is a simple home, designed to work hard. A practical place for a growing family living a hands-on life in the countryside.
DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS - A QUIET HOME THAT FITS THE COUNTRYSIDE
Crookedy Park looks like it belongs where it is. The outside uses everyday materials people know and see locally, so the house feels at home in the landscape. Inside, the family can look out over the fields and enjoy the peace of the countryside every day.
SPACE TO LIVE TOGETHER
The whole ground floor is one open space where cooking, eating, and relaxing all happen side by side. Sunlight comes in through large doors that open straight into the garden, making it easy for everyone to spend time outdoors. The birch plywood staircase brings something special into the heart of the home, without feeling too fancy.
BUILT TO BE WARM AND EFFICIENT
This home stays warm without using much energy. Thick natural insulation keeps the heat in, and a wood boiler uses fuel from the land itself. Windows are placed to let the sun help warm the house, so it is cheaper to run and comfortable all year round.
