FURZY CLOSE

Furzy Close is a contemporary sustainable coastal home in Polzeath, North Cornwall, designed by ARCO2. Positioned high above the coastline with views towards Pentire Headland, the project combines low energy design principles with contemporary coastal architecture created for relaxed modern living.

Furzy Close sits above Polzeath, overlooking the North Cornwall coastline. The original property was a modest dormer bungalow that no longer suited the needs of its owners or made the most of its dramatic coastal setting.

The clients wanted a home that felt more connected to nature and better suited to family life by the sea. The brief centred around creating open, welcoming living spaces where family and friends could gather comfortably throughout the year, while maintaining a calm and relaxed atmosphere inspired by the surrounding landscape.

The design focused on maximising natural light, strengthening the relationship between house and garden and carefully framing views across the coastline. Alongside open plan living areas, the home also includes four en-suite bedrooms, a gym, media room, yoga studio and spaces designed around wellbeing and everyday comfort.

The result is a sustainable contemporary coastal home designed to feel spacious, welcoming and deeply connected to its North Cornwall setting.

We work with clients across North Cornwall as experienced North Cornwall architects and architects in Cornwall, delivering bespoke coastal homes tailored to each site.

Designing here came with plenty of challenges.  The site sits high above Polzeath, close to protected coastal land and surrounded by homes that all look towards the sea. The family needed more space than the old bungalow could offer, but the new house couldn’t feel too big or block their neighbours’ views.

We knew a two storey design was needed to meet the brief, but it meant being careful with height and position. Building in the centre of the site would have blocked sea views for the house behind, so we had to move and rotate the upper level to open those views back up.  The slope brought its own difficulties. We had to set the home into the hillside, make it robust against the weather and still keep it open to the light and sea.

Every decision was about balance. What the family wanted, what the site allowed and how we could bring both together.

To give the family the space they needed, the new home was designed across two storeys.  The upper floor was moved east and turned towards Pentire Headland, opening the living spaces to the sea and creating a generous roof terrace for everyone to enjoy together.  This also allowed an area at the back for a detached garage and surf room, and opened up sea views for the neighbouring homes nearby.

The layout is made for everyday life. The main living spaces sit upstairs, bright and open to the views, with the kitchen, dining, and sitting areas close together for shared time.  Downstairs, the bedrooms open onto terraces and gardens, giving each room a direct link to the outdoors.  A yoga studio, gym, and room for the dogs make the house easy to use and give them additional spaces they wanted.

Built to near Passive House standards, the home stays comfortable through every season. Concrete, steel and timber give it strength, while natural materials and soft planting help it feel part of its place.

Furzy Close now feels open, bright, and is connected to the surroundings.  It is a home made for gathering, cooking together, hosting friends, and spending mornings with the sea view.  Every detail was considered, from the way daylight moves through the rooms to how each space links with the outdoors. The materials, colours, and textures all work together to make the house feel natural and lasting.  What used to be a modest bungalow has become a contemporary family home that feels thoughtful and easy to live in.

At the centre of Furzy Close is a space made for time together.  The kitchen, dining, and living areas sit side by side, opening onto wide terraces where the family can cook, eat, and relax with the view. Upstairs living brings in light through the day, making the rooms feel bright and connected to the sea.  It’s a home designed for company, where hosting friends feels as natural as quiet time as a family.

Every part of the layout supports what this family wished for.  The detached garage and surf room make coming and going easy after a day on the beach.  A dedicated dog room, yoga studio, and gym add small comforts that enrich daily life creating a healthy and enjoyable environment.  It’s a home that offers a good balance of wellness, rest, and connection.

Built to near Passive House standards, Furzy Close combines performance with care for the environment.  Recycled newspaper insulation and wood fibre insulation helps regulate temperature year-round, while the flat green roof supports local wildlife and softens the house into the hillside.  Natural materials like timber and stone root the building in its surroundings, creating a contemporary home that looks after both the people inside and the place it belongs to.

2019  National Green Apple Awards – Silver Winner

Read the 2019 Green Apple award announcement.

Architects Working Across North Cornwall

ARCO2 designs contemporary sustainable homes across Polzeath, Rock, Padstow, Daymer Bay, Constantine Bay, Trevone Bay, St Merryn and the wider North Cornwall coastline. North Cornwall Architects.