Vine House is a strikingly modern home that has been carefully designed to make the most of its remarkable hillside setting in Dartmouth, Devon. Central to the project’s brief was using local materials with modern construction techniques, creating a home that felt rooted within its surroundings but was undeniably a piece of contemporary design. The tone for the property was set by the existing Devon stone wall to the rear of the house; this was retained and incorporated into the design. The newly constructed, main volumes of the house were also constructed from Devon stone, with glass and Corten Steel making up the core palette of materials. Sustainability was also key to the client’s brief. The excellent energy performance of the building was achieved through the use of technology (photovoltaic and solar thermal panels) as well as passive techniques such as stack ventilation and the orientation of the building to control internal temperatures. Photography by Matt Chisnall
