Green Pastures

The Green Pastures project began when the clients approached ReFrame Studio having purchased what they described as “a view,” accompanied by a rather uninspiring and impractical bungalow. Set within Exmoor National Park, the existing house was an unremarkable pebble-dash structure with a simple pitched roof that failed to respond to its remarkable coastal setting. The clients wished to reimagine the property as a comforting and uplifting home suited to the next phase of their lives, providing modest additional space for everyday living and the occasional guest rather than a substantial expansion. Central to the brief was making far greater use of the sea view, transforming the house into a place that fully embraces its landscape and offers a more enjoyable way of living.

The design approach began with an initial brief for a loft conversion, but it quickly became clear that this option would be heavily compromised and unable to provide the quality and generosity of space the clients were seeking. In response, an alternative proposal was developed, conceived as a new rooftop pavilion that could sit lightly above the existing structure while creating a generous first-floor terrace oriented toward the sea views. To unify old and new, the existing external walls were reclad, using stone to form a cohesive architectural expression and allowing the house to blend more naturally into its Exmoor surroundings, in contrast to the former white-painted bungalow

Planning approval has been secured for a proposal that will transform the property into a distinctive home worthy of its remarkable setting, carefully nestled within the hillside landscape. The use of stone cladding and a sedum roof will allow the building to blend naturally into its surroundings, reinforcing a quiet architectural presence within Exmoor National Park. Conceived to support contemporary living within a modest footprint, the scheme will provide a carefully balanced home without unnecessary scale, while a biodiverse landscape strategy and new planting will further enhance the ecological value and long-term character of the site.

Technical development focused on working sensitively within the structural limitations of the existing bungalow while enabling the new rooftop intervention. The structural strategy required careful coordination, leading to the integration of slender steel columns within the glazing line, discreetly clad in aluminium to maintain a refined and lightweight appearance. To minimise additional load on the original building, the pavilion was constructed using a timber frame system, complemented by detailed research into lightweight green roof solutions. A sedum crate system was ultimately adopted, allowing the roof to contribute to environmental performance and visual integration with the surrounding landscape without imposing excessive structural weight.

Key challenges centred on the site’s sensitive environmental designation within Exmoor’s Dark Skies Reserve, where concerns were raised about the extent of proposed glazing and the potential for light pollution, particularly in relation to bat habitats. In response, the design was carefully adjusted to reduce areas of glazing while still maintaining the desired character of a lightweight rooftop pavilion. This process was supported by detailed research into glass performance and the selection of a specific G-value specification, which was reviewed and agreed in consultation with the landscape officer to ensure the proposal balanced environmental responsibility with architectural intent.