A minimalist Cornwall retreat on Porthcothan Bay was conceived for easy living by its author, the London-based architecture studio De Rosee Sa. Blending the region’s charmingly rugged landscape with the clients’ love for surfing, the home is not only personalised to serve its owners’ passions and daily needs, but it was also designed to connect deeply with its setting – from its natural materials that draw on its surroundings to its gabled roof, which is typical in its part of the world.
(Image credit: Peter Molloy )
Tour this contemporary Cornwall retreat by De Rosee Sa
Clad in cream coloured timber, the house is crafted in simple geometries and minimalist lines, featuring dark-framed openings which elegantly punctuate the facades. It comes as a pleasingly abstract iteration of local vernacular forms, while breaking down the home’s overall volume, which spans a comfortable 335 sq m.
(Image credit: Peter Molloy )
A garden made of wildflowers, grasses and Cornish stone creates a perfect, naturalistic landscape for the house to emerge from – ensuring it remains in tune with surrounding native plant life, and flowing organically down to the cliffside below.
(Image credit: Peter Molloy )
Inside, similar themes prevail, with neutral colours and materials such as clay and lime paints, and wide oak boards dominating the interior – drawing directly from the region’s overall palette. Surfaces are tactile and textures echo sand, stone and driftwood.
(Image credit: Peter Molloy )
A sculptural limestone fireplace becomes a key feature in the main living space, with a large picture window drawing the eye out towards the long sea views on the other end of the room. Vaulted timber ceilings and rooflights ensure interiors feel spacious and natural light reaches every corner.
(Image credit: Peter Molloy )
Beyond the main residential areas – living, kitchen and dining areas, and bedrooms – a series of additional spaces make sure the home is perfectly tailored to its residents’ lifestyle. These include a cocoon-like snug, a bespoke bunk room, and space for changing and storage before and after surfing sessions.
(Image credit: Peter Molloy )
Max de Rosee, who co-founded De Rosee Sa together with partner Claire Sa, says: ‘The Cornish landscape is dramatic, and we wanted to celebrate that. The front door acts like a pause: plain, almost mute, until the sea takes over. Every key space is oriented to the view. Light and outlook were treated as materials in their own right, shaping how the interiors are experienced.’
(Image credit: Peter Molloy )
‘Timber-lined ceilings, clay and lime walls, natural oak – all chosen to create a tactile, breathable environment that feels made, not manufactured. By tucking the third floor into the roofline, we preserved the village scale while giving the family the space they needed. The result is a house designed for ease of living, comfort and longevity.’
(Image credit: Peter Molloy )