A much-loved landmark on the Cornish coastline, this characterful house, known as The Island, has inspired artists and authors since it was built in 1910. With its red roof and rough-cast rendered façade, it sits high on an imposing granite rock, surrounded by water, until the tide rolls back to reveal the silvery sands below.
‘It occupies most of the island’s footprint and connects to the mainland via a suspension bridge – an engineering feat in its own right,’ says architect Will Gamble, who was tasked with the redesign of the modest home, which had been gently altered over time. ‘But once you’re there, it feels like a real sanctuary, despite its dramatic setting.’
The initial brief was to create an extra bedroom within the roof, but having spent time immersed in the unique and ever-changing environment, Will proposed an alternative plan.
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‘It’s a very special property, but all of the windows faced towards the coast rather than out to sea. The new owners were hesitant about big adjustments as they didn’t want to impact its appearance, given its heritage and status,’ he explains. ‘We felt, however, that even with a light touch we could create a better connection with its surroundings, as well as improving the layout.’
The solution was to reorient the property, introducing larger windows that offer uninterrupted views of the water, and to subtly increase the footprint, Will and his team designed a new modern extension set within the valley of the existing roof. Clad in durable, marine-grade metal, it complements the iconic red tiles and is visible only from passing boats.
Inside, the ground floor was opened up as much as possible to create an expansive living space, and the old arched front door was replaced with a minimal picture window framing the sea beyond.
‘We then took that arch shape and used it throughout the project,’ Will says. ‘We prefer to retain original features and celebrate them as best we can, but if we add anything new, we make sure there’s a clear contrast, so you can see how the house has evolved over time.’
The choice of materials was driven by the natural environment, with Cornish slate, oak floors that pick up the tone of wet sand and moody blues to reflect the wild sea. ‘The aesthetic is deliberately calm, so it doesn’t distract from the scenery, which is very much the main event,’ says Will.
Overall, the transformation feels like a quiet conversation between past and present – a gentle evolution rather than a bold statement. ‘The landscape is so powerful, always shifting, always alive,’ says Will. ‘Now, the house is in tune with its natural setting, and there’s something quietly romantic about that constant change.’ willgamblearchitects.com
