A fossil-shaped eco home in the rolling countryside of Devon

“One of the most ambitious homes ever seen on the show.” So says Channel 4 about this extraordinary home in the Blackdown Hills, which appeared on an episode of Grand Designs in 2017. We’re inclined to agree: conceived by its current owners, an engineer and a keen horticulturalist, its architecture is quite remarkably inspired by an ammonite fossil found on the site. The design combines the biomorphic forms of a Fibonacci spiral with the natural elements of the landscape to create a home that the couple intended to be as “off-grid” as possible – and now, it’s on the market.

When it came to designing this home, it’s hardly surprising that the owners were compelled to take cues from the plot’s surroundings. The rolling countryside of Blackdown Hills, which became a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1991, is a breathtaking sight to behold. Outdoor enthusiasts in particular will revel in its peaceful position in Devon, where small farms, deep valleys and winding lanes combine to create a wonderful backdrop for long walks. The site itself also includes more than seven private acres of pretty wild meadowland and bordering fields.

The five-bedroom home has been built using chert – a locally sourced stone typical of the neighbouring vernacular – while the shell-like roof has been crafted with different species of timber, carefully selected to chime with the encircling landscape. Inside, a spiraling series of living spaces unfold, in which curved ceilings create a dramatic sense of volume. The interiors are bright thanks to the generous amounts of glazing used for the southerly façade. The views from here, which look out to the meadows, are rather delightful too.

And when the owners said they wanted the house to be as “off-grid” as possible, they meant it. Not only is the home’s fossil-inspired curve visually striking, but it has been fitted with solar panels that face the west and south to make the most of the sun’s rays. Water is heated with a solar thermal system, while a ground-source heat pump (the running costs of which have been offset by the installation of custom-made curved solar panels) provides energy for the underfloor heating. And then there’s the sunroom, which has been cleverly conceived to double as a solar and heat collector. It makes a lovely place to sit and watch the world go by during the warmer months too.

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