House of the Earth: A Rammed-Earth Country House in Wiltshire by Tuckey Design Studio

Start typing to search...

On the site of a former brickworks in rural Wiltshire, London-based Tuckey Design Studio has completed a new country house built from the ground beneath it. The project, a rammed earth house, uses excavated clay and demolition aggregate from the existing site to form its thick monolithic walls—an ancient construction technique reimagined here with a level of refinement that is unmistakably Tuckey Design.

The house is situated on a 63-acre property where the owners sought to transform “a scattering of unremarkable Victorian buildings and unwelcome 1990s additions into an unconventional, daring, and contextually rooted country homestead grounded in an environmental sensibility,” the studio writes.

As a former brickworks, the site already had a history of material extraction. Research into the surrounding geology—including William Smith’s 1815 geological map of England—revealed clay-rich soil beneath the property, prompting the architects to explore rammed earth not as novelty, but as architecture. Existing buildings were demolished, their aggregate combined with excavated clay from the site itself to create the raw material for the new walls. “We turned the site into a quarry,” explains Jonathan Tuckey. “Digging, drying, and sifting the clay.”

The resulting house is defined by a series of earthen volumes linked by lighter timber-and-glass structures, with interiors shaped by textural and material simplicity. Working alongside Todhunter Earle Interiors and landscape designer Pip Morrison, the studio has created a low-impact house that feels generous, tactile, and monumental—with a footprint to match. Here’s a look around.

Photography by Jim Stephenson for Tuckey Design Studio.

a far cry from london living: the clients are a retired couple from london look 17 — Above: A far cry from London living: the clients are a retired couple from London looking to prioritize their passions of gardening and horse riding.

Because rammed earth remains uncommon at this scale in the UK, the first six months were spent testing material blends and construction methods alongside Austrian rammed-earth specialist Martin Rauch of Lehm Ton Erde. The team ultimately avoided cement and lime stabilizers altogether, determining a 25/25/25/25 ratio of clay, demolition aggregate formed of crushed brick and concrete, locally sourced limestone gravel, all mixed with water. The material is ancient—rammed earth has been used as a building technique as far back as the Neolithic era, but the application is entirely new.

the house walls were built up in layers and compressed manually by builders wal 18 — Above: The house walls were built up in layers and compressed manually by builders walking up and down on top using a rammer.

environmental measures were comprehensive: natural and reclaimed materials, hig 19 — Above: Environmental measures were comprehensive: natural and reclaimed materials, high thermal mass and insulation, triple glazing, ground source heat pump, photovoltaics, and rainwater collection.

the two main rammed earth volumes are linked with a kitchen/dining pavilion fra 20 — Above: The two main rammed earth volumes are linked with a kitchen/dining pavilion framed in timber and glass.

up to one meter thick in places, the unstabilized rammed earth walls carve out 21 — Above: Up to one meter thick in places, the unstabilized rammed earth walls carve out niches, benches, and deeply recessed openings throughout the house, their surfaces finished with a protective casein coating.

the kitchen was designed custom with walnut joinery by orwells furniture. the w 22 — Above: The kitchen was designed custom with walnut joinery by Orwells Furniture. The worktop is Moleanos limestone. The kitchen faucet is from Studio Ore.

set among rammed earth and oak framing are two miele wall ovens. a custom islan 23 — Above: Set among rammed earth and oak framing are two Miele wall ovens. A custom island at center is designed with a cantilevered worktop for dining.

interior designer emily todhunter explains: &#8\2\20;the challenge was the 24 — Above: Interior designer Emily Todhunter explains: “The challenge was the balance the architectural sensibility of the project with the clients’ very textured lives and possessions, while also reversing the traditional country-house concept of shutting out the elements by closing the curtains and lighting the fire.”

layerings of the clients&#8\2\17; collection from artwork and \19th century 25 — Above: Layerings of the clients’ collection from artwork and 19th century antiques to geometric flatweaves.

a reading nook window in a room with mahogany stained plaster walls. the wall l 26 — Above: A reading nook window in a room with mahogany-stained plaster walls. The wall light is the Soren Wall Light from Pinch.

wood paneling is stained with tikkurila valtti wood stains. 27 — Above: Wood paneling is stained with Tikkurila Valtti wood stains.

the main bedroom is finished with a rattan ceiling. 28 — Above: The main bedroom is finished with a rattan ceiling.

a wc with a hand carved wood sink made from macracarpa/monterey cypress sourced 29 — Above: A WC with a hand-carved wood sink made from Macracarpa/Monterey cypress sourced from Devon and made by Isabel Coulton.

a rammed earth turret is designed with an oak staircase completed with the expe 30 — Above: A rammed earth turret is designed with an oak staircase completed with the expertise of Robert Lynch.

the project is a modern adaptation of a castle like architectural language. the 31 — Above: The project is a modern adaptation of a castle-like architectural language. The turret stair is illuminated by a single Soren Globe Light 700 from Pinch.

rammed earth is pared with oak, limestone, clay plaster, and copper with interi 32 — Above: Rammed earth is pared with oak, limestone, clay plaster, and copper with interiors informed by Jun’ichirō Tanizaki’s *In Praise of Shadows*.

the house feels less &#8\2\20;built&#8\2\2\1; than compacted from the l 33 — Above: The house feels less “built” than compacted from the landscape itself.

For more innovative projects from Tuckey Design Studio, see our posts:

(Visited 125 times, 123 visits today)

You need to login or register to view and manage your bookmarks.

Add to Collection

New Collection

Show Bookmarks

Explore Deeper Into These Areas

All Our Stories

Kitchen of the Week: 7 Design Ideas to Steal from deVOL’s Bath Showroom

Heading somewhere?

Rescued Wreck: A Guest House Offshoot of the Beloved Rivertown Lodge in Hudson NY

Remodeling 101

Remodeling 101: Everything You Need to Know About Limewash Paint

Shop Our Picks

Gather Table

Find a Firm

Regions Served

Browse by Field

Klopf Architecture