A Throw Back to Bere Alston Reservoir
Our project near Bere Alston is one we still talk about with pride. Not as a relic of the past but as a clear example of how bold ideas and careful thinking can come together to create something truly special.
The starting point was an old underground reservoir, a former asset owned by South West Water. It was a vast concrete structure set into the landscape, hidden from view and never intended for people to inhabit. For many it would have been seen as a constraint. For us and our client it was an opportunity.
Rather than clearing the site entirely, the design worked with what was already there. Parts of the original reservoir were carefully demolished, while significant sections of the concrete structure were retained and reused. This reduced waste, respected the history of the site and gave the building a strong and distinctive character.
The home was conceived as a largely underground project, helping it sit quietly within its rural setting. Light and openness were brought into the heart of the scheme through a central courtyard. This space became the focus of the house, drawing daylight deep into the plan and creating a sheltered outdoor room that could be enjoyed throughout the year.
Living spaces were arranged around this courtyard, with strong visual connections between inside and out. The retained concrete walls provided both structure and texture, grounding the house in its past while supporting a contemporary way of living. The result was a home that felt robust yet calm, private yet open.
Projects like this have shaped the way we work today. They have strengthened our experience with complex sites, existing structures and unconventional briefs. They remind us that some of the most rewarding homes come from looking again at what is already there and asking how it might be reimagined.
From our studios in Exeter and Plymouth we continue to work on exciting and unique homes across Devon and the South West. We help clients navigate challenging sites, ambitious ideas and the realities of building with confidence.
If you have a site with a story, an old structure or a brief that does not fit the usual mould, we would love to talk. Good design is not about following trends. It is about understanding place, making thoughtful choices and creating homes that feel right for today and tomorrow.
