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An Updated Cornish Longhouse by Tuckey Design Studio

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House Tour Issue 14 — Wild Color

An Updated Cornish Longhouse by Tuckey Design Studio

Alexa Hotz April 5, 2024

Located in the shadow of Saint Michael’s Mount on the coast in southern Cornwall, an agrarian longhouse was re-envisioned by Tuckey Design Studio who defined an entirely new living space while remaining sympathetic to the 400-year-old original structure. The house once served both domestic and agricultural functions with the residence in the upper half, situated at the top of the hill, and the animals and stores in the lower. As a result, the building was compartmented into a sequence of smaller rooms. The studio renovated the interior into a four-bedroom family home of well-defined spaces and sustainable innovations, all while retaining the character of the building. The result is a mutual relationship between old and new. Join us for a tour.

Photography by James Brittain courtesy of Tuckey Design Studio.

the surrounding landscape defines the property. the low, sloping meadows reach 17 — Above: The surrounding landscape defines the property. The low, sloping meadows reach the sea about a half a mile away.

the 3,0\14 square foot building is comprised of four bedrooms and two bathrooms 18 — Above: The 3,014-square-foot building is comprised of four bedrooms and two bathrooms with the guest bedroom existing in the stonework addition.

The house had undergone changes over time which resulting in various style and material combinations. “This was embraced rather than to be homogenized into anything overtly pure of form,” the designers explain. The new addition, a dry-stone-wall extension that cantilevers out of the house on the upper level, was developed in this vein as seen in the exterior where the original white limed pelt building flows into oak slats and stonework.

connecting the old and new structures is an internal passageway with an exterio 19 — Above: Connecting the old and new structures is an internal passageway with an exterior clad in oak-slat windows and doors.

the interior palette is made up of plaster, slate, oak, and painted panelling. 20 — Above: The interior palette is made up of plaster, slate, oak, and painted panelling.

the architects were looking for the feel of a theatrical stage stair with a 90 21 — Above: The architects were looking for the feel of a theatrical stage stair with a 90-degree turn at the bottom. They fitted the stair with a sculptural, curved handrail to give it the sense of levitating on nearly visible black steel legs. To create the stair, hidden steel plates were first fixed to the wall, then clad with oak treads; the banister is fixed through the treads. The banister was made locally in Cornwall by MGC Engineering.

a view into the children&#8\2\17;s bedroom on the upper level of the main p 22 — Above: A view into the children’s bedroom on the upper level of the main part of the house, complete with two twin beds.

the plaster walls of the bathroom are painted in cotton 3, upper panelling and 23 — Above: The plaster walls of the bathroom are painted in Cotton 3, upper panelling and ceiling in Cotton 2, and lower panel and floor in Wattle 5, all from Paper and Paint Library. The tub is the under-mount BetteStarlet bathtub fitted with the Vola Flow Tub Spout in matte black. The sink is the Shaws of Darwen Baby Belfast Sink with a matte black Vola Faucet 111.

the main bedroom is also on the upper floor of the older/main structure. it& 24 — Above: The main bedroom is also on the upper floor of the older/main structure. It’s finished with a paneled ceiling painted in Cotton 2 from Paper and Paint Library. The wall behind the bed is finished in Cotton 3. The windows are chamfered and pillowed for a softer bounce of light.

the internal passageway connecting the original building and addition is formed 25 — Above: The internal passageway connecting the original building and addition is formed of stone-lined walls and slate floor tiles.

a rounded plaster entryway fitted with a modern door opens into a downstairs be 26 — Above: A rounded plaster entryway fitted with a modern door opens into a downstairs bedroom in the main building.

the materials used throughout the house have a connection with the surrounding 27 — Above: The materials used throughout the house have a connection with the surrounding area, keeping the carbon footprint of the renovation low. Other sustainable considerations are the addition of a geothermal heat pump and an internal high-insulating render system.

the living room hearth houses a morsø 34\10 wood burning stove. it&#8\ 28 — Above: The living room hearth houses a Morsø 3410 wood-burning stove. It’s defined by curved walls created by way of gray-hued Tadelakt lime plaster. The veneered oak storage cabinet at left is designed by Tuckey Design Studio.

the client was inspired by the ancient boat building techniques of the local ar 29 — Above: The client was inspired by the ancient boat building techniques of the local area. In response, Tuckey Design Studio utilized careful and human-crafted details throughout the building.

the stone extension to the building houses a guest bedroom on the upper level. 30 — Above: The stone extension to the building houses a guest bedroom on the upper level.

the coarser stonework of the extension is taken directly from a quarry in the n 31 — Above: The coarser stonework of the extension is taken directly from a quarry in the neighboring village.

the plan of the ground floor shows the older structure and the addition at righ 32 — Above: The plan of the ground floor shows the older structure and the addition at right.

the plan of the second floor. 33 — Above: The plan of the second floor.

For more from Tuckey Design Studio, see our posts:

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Frequently asked questions

Where is the Cornish Longhouse located?

The Cornish Longhouse is located in southern Cornwall, in the shadow of the island Saint Michael's Mount.

Who re-envisioned the Cornish Longhouse?

The Cornish Longhouse was re-envisioned by Tuckey Design Studio.

How many bedrooms are there in the renovated Cornish Longhouse?

The renovated Cornish Longhouse has four bedrooms.

What sustainable innovations were included in the renovation?

The renovation included sustainable innovations such as a geothermal heat pump and an internal high-insulating render system.

What external material was utilized in the new addition to the building?

The new addition to the building features oak slats and stonework.

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