There are some homes that appear not built atop the earth, but emerging from it – curving with natural contours, attuned to shifting light, and entirely grounded in their surroundings. Visually, they do not impose themselves upon the landscape, but settle quietly into it, as though they have always belonged.
Rooted in the principles of biophilic design, these houses nurture an innate human connection to nature, dissolving boundaries between inside and out. Research shows that being in spaces attuned to natural rhythms can reduce stress, support immune function and improve sleep. Just as we depend on nature to thrive, our homes can support the environment in return too, encouraging biodiversity and supporting local ecosystems.
Whether carved into cliffs, nesting amongst trees, or unfolding across coastal plains, this piece explores dwellings that are shaped by their surroundings while also offering refuge from them. Grounded architecture speaks a language of belonging; where materials, form and setting exist in dialogue.
Verte, Devon
In a sylvan glade on the Chevithorne Barton estate, home to the world’s largest collection of oak trees, RIBA award-winner Verte emerges quietly. Built in symphony with the land on which it sits, this contemporary treehouse fans out in an angular display of larch cladding from the hillside. An open-plan living space with wraparound windows frames an ever-shifting tapestry of leaves and light. Here, meals unfold around a dining table carved from local timber, while a circular fireplace draws focus at night as owls call between branches. Outside, surrounding meadows and lakes invite a slow rhythm – think long soaks in a woodfired hot tub beneath the canopies.
Monterey, Cornwall
At Monterey, the boundary between shelter and shoreline seems to dissolve. Positioned just a few salty steps from the sand at Porthtowan in Cornwall, Monterey embraces its coastal setting with an openness that invites the outside in. Think skylights, boxy windows framing front-row sea views, and fluid spaces with a tactile material palette and beachy hues. Life here unfolds in response to the tides: surf at dawn, slow afternoons on the beach, and evenings on the terrace savouring Cornish sea bass with just-foraged samphire. Here, proximity and sensory richness create a blended intimacy with the landscape.
Serpentine, Cornwall
On the western cusp of Whitsand Bay, Serpentine feels more carved than constructed – its circular form tracing the natural curve of the cliff edge. An eco wildflower grass roof allows the home to dissolve into the landscape, encouraging biodiversity while softening its visual presence. Inside, an organic colour palette and floor-to-ceiling glass doors framing panoramic coastal views create a sense of natural immersion. Here, the rhythms of the tide – the pulse of the waves below, the slow drift of light and the salt-laced air – become part of the architecture itself.
Mirana, Cornwall
Amidst the wooded purlieus of the Helford River, Mirana sits harmoniously within its natural surroundings; a pavilion composed of honey-hued Cornish stone, larch cladding and modernist glass. Interiors of earthy plaster and tadelakt walls create a sense of organic tranquility, while expansive glass panes casting views over the plantings and pond transform the landscape into living artwork and flood the space with light. Outside, the natural swimming pond mirrors the sky and attracts iridescent dragonflies and yellow wagtails. Its edges are lined with native reeds and grasses that help cleanse the water and sustain the ecosystem's balance.
Old Pine, Cornwall
This coastal sanctuary overlooks a ribbon of the Earth’s mantle visible at low tide – a rare geological site on Cornwall’s Lizard Peninsula. Its design draws directly from the surrounding landscape, with serpentine accents echoing the local geology, granite arches and gentle curves following the line of the bay, and planting reflecting its botanical heritage. Across three levels, the interiors unfold like geological strata, each layer revealing sweeping sea views and capturing pools of coastal light, with the changing moods of the sea quietly shaping the tone within. In the sheltered gardens, you might gather around the fire pit or dine amongst heritage fruit trees.
Elberta Barn, Essex
In a green pocket by the Suffolk border sits Elberta Barn, winner of two RIBA awards and shortlisted for Grand Designs House of the Year. Embracing its agricultural roots, nothing is built against its oak and elm structure, preserving the original volume. Large barn doors frame pastoral views like a living painting – the same landscape that inspired Gainsborough and Constable. Purposeful grounds blend into the setting, from a pond that mirrors the East Anglian sky to a perennial meadow that complements the cereal crops in the flank fields. A courtyard garden grows apple, greengage and apricot trees – Elberta’s warm peachy colour palette echoing the fruity hue.
Ukiyo, Cornwall
Perched above Coverack Cove, Ukiyo is inspired by the Japanese concept of the “floating world,” a blissful state of detachment from everyday life. This eco-friendly home offers a retreat attuned to the cycles of nature – expansive picture windows frame uninterrupted sea views, soothing the senses, while tactile materials such as recycled natural stone and an ash-clad bath, alongside a serene palette of stony greys, seashell whites and sandy browns, deepen a sense of connection to the outdoors. Outside, its silvering Siberian larch cladding appears to melt into the ocean setting.
Selkie, Scotland
Amidst the wild beauty of the Isle of Skye, Selkie is an eco-conscious sanctuary designed as an ode to its surroundings. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame panoramic views stretching across heather-clad hills to Loch Harport, while minimalist interiors create a calming refuge – think oak floors and walls painted in pigments blended with locally sourced seaweed. Outside, a sauna offers a front-row seat to Skye’s starlit skies, or even the Northern Lights. Designed to exist lightly within its setting, the home is powered by renewable energy from an integrated wind turbine and solar panels, and supplied with pure spring water.
Feeling inspired? Peruse our full collection of unique private rental homes or read about The best homes for a wellness retreat next.
