LITTLE TREGULLAS

Little Tregullas is a contemporary sustainable home near Truro, Cornwall, designed by ARCO2. Positioned within the Mid Cornwall landscape near Kea, the project combines low energy design principles with contemporary rural architecture shaped around long views, privacy and everyday family living.

Set amongst trees and open countryside, the site already had planning approval for a house originally designed for a previous owner. When the new clients purchased the land, they recognised the opportunity to create a home better suited to how they wanted to live – practical, comfortable and closely connected to the surrounding landscape.

The site remains private from the road before opening out into expansive valley views beyond. Its sloping topography created both opportunity and complexity, requiring careful planning and thoughtful design development before construction could begin.

The brief focused on creating a sustainable family home that worked naturally throughout the seasons while making the most of light, views and the changing landscape around it. The architecture balances simplicity, warmth and durability, creating a home that feels calm, welcoming and rooted within its Mid Cornwall setting.

We work with clients across the county as experienced architects in Cornwall, delivering bespoke residential architecture tailored to each landscape and site.

The site sits in a quiet, protected area where every new home faces strict planning rules. The clients wanted enough space for family life, but the house still had to fit naturally into the landscape and stay discreet from the road.

The land drops steeply from the entrance, which made the groundwork tricky. Getting the levels right took time. The garden needed to stay usable, and the house couldn’t sit too high on the land.  Because the house is built into the slope, there was little room for error once construction started. Services, ventilation, and structure all had to be coordinated early.  Finding sustainable materials that performed well but stayed within budget added another layer of challenge.  It was a demanding process. Balancing client’s wish for a comfortable, light-filled home with the limits of the land and the planning rules that protected it.

Before drawing began, we spent time understanding how the house could sit on the land and respond to the slope. It needed to face the views, make the most of the sun, and still keep privacy from the road.  We designed the layout that steps down the hillside. Each level has its own outlook, and together they form a home that feels connected and easy to move through.

The lower floor holds the bedrooms, partly built into the ground for warmth and shelter. The main living spaces sit above, opening out to the landscape.  Rooflights and large windows draw light deep into the plan, keeping every space bright. A passive solar sunspace collects heat in cooler months and helps air flow in warmer ones.

The structure is made from a timber frame with thick layers of recycled insulation, giving the building strong performance without losing simplicity.  Stone, slate, and render link the new home to its surroundings while the green roofs soften the form and help it blend with the hillside.

For the clients, this project was about building a home that truly worked for them. Now complete, it feels lived in, steady and made for daily life.  The main living space is a place where everyone can gather, with the kitchen at the centre and views across the valley. Each room connects to the outside, giving a close sense of the land around them.  The house looks after itself, keeping the air moving and the temperature comfortable through every season.  Outside, the green roofs and planting have grown in, linking the house with the garden they’ve made their own.  It’s a place that reflects how they live and what they care about. Practical, efficient, and built with lasting attention to detail.

Little Tregullas was designed for Alan and Sue’s family life.  The open plan kitchen and living space were designed for getting people together, filled with natural light from roof windows and glazing that looks out over the countryside.  Curved walls add character and soften the design, while the plan keeps the home private from the road but open to the views beyond.

The house is built partly into the ground, it looks like a single-storey home from the entrance, keeping it modest and in tune with the area.  The green roofs and natural materials help it blend into its setting, keeping the landscape as the focus.

Little Tregullas was built to be efficient and low-energy.  The lower rooms use the earth’s insulation to stay steady through the seasons.  Solar panels support heating and electricity and the whole building is wrapped in recycled, breathable insulation. The living roofs attract wildlife and slow rainwater runoff.

ARCO₂ have received a lot of recognition for this new build:

• LABC SW Winner of Best Sustainable Design
• 2012 Green Apple Award – Gold
• Built in Quality Awards 2012
• Selfbuilder & Homemaker Feature
• SelfBuild & Design Feature Jan 2013

ARCO2 designs contemporary sustainable homes across Cornwall, including North Cornwall, South Cornwall and coastal locations such as Polzeath, Rock, Padstow, Mawgan Porth, Falmouth and beyond. Our work combines contemporary architecture with low energy design principles, carefully responding to landscape, climate and long-term building performance.

Explore our Architects Cornwall page →