Of Architecture builds beachside home for surfer-and-artist couple in Cornwall
![Minimalist living room inside House by the Sea by Of Architecture](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2023/04/house-by-the-sea-of-architecture-cornwall-interiors_dezeen_2364_col_11-852x639.jpg)
Though the brief was relatively straightforward, erecting the home proved tricky for the practice.
“The house is located by the cliff side of Pentire peninsula and has a very steep driveway, so transporting material was a big challenge for everyone on site,” the Of Architecture co-founder James Mak told Dezeen.
“We had to work with materials that could be carried by a small vehicle or by hand.”
![Minimalist living room inside House by the Sea by Of Architecture](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2023/04/house-by-the-sea-of-architecture-cornwall-interiors_dezeen_2364_col_0-852x639.jpg)
Once the framework was in place, the house was finished with a “monolithic and modest” lime plaster facade.
Key rooms were dispersed across the home’s open-plan first floor, where walls are almost exclusively painted an off-white shade.
![Prefabricated staircase inside House by the Sea by Of Architecture](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2023/04/house-by-the-sea-of-architecture-cornwall-interiors_dezeen_2364_col_2-852x1136.jpg)
In one corner is the kitchen, which features black melamine plywood cabinetry and a large breakfast island topped with stainless steel.
Overhead hangs a couple of industrial-style pendant lamps.
![Minimalist living room inside House by the Sea by Of Architecture](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2023/04/house-by-the-sea-of-architecture-cornwall-interiors_dezeen_2364_col_6-852x639.jpg)
Adjacently lies a sitting area that directly overlooks Newquay’s picturesque Pentire Steps beach.
Fronted by expansive sliding windows, the space is dressed with a classic Eames lounge chair and an L-shaped sofa upholstered in beige marl fabric.
Another sitting area lies towards the rear of the first floor, facing a concrete blockwork wall.
Backed against the wall is a wood burner with a tall slender flue that stretches up to meet the four-metre-high ceiling.
![Minimalist living room inside House by the Sea by Of Architecture](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2023/04/house-by-the-sea-of-architecture-cornwall-interiors_dezeen_2364_col_7-852x639.jpg)
Prefabricated plywood steps lead up to a mezzanine level tucked beneath the home’s sloping roof. Also, it is held up by steel beams.
Intended to serve as a cosy retreat, the space is illuminated by a single skylight while artworks are casually leaned up against its walls and books are showcased on a wrap-around gridded shelf.
The minimalist aesthetic of the first floor then carries over onto the home’s ground floor, which accommodates two guest bedrooms. Complete with their own en suites – a cloakroom and a utility room.
![House by the Sea by Of Architecture](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2023/04/house-by-the-sea-of-architecture-cornwall-interiors_dezeen_2364_col_4-852x639.jpg)
A number of other architecturally striking homes can be found along the British coast.
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