A Timber Artist’s Retreat Sprouts Beside a Stone Cottage in England

Studio Weave draws upon traditional craft and contemporary design to create a garden dwelling geared toward creative growth.

Every building has a story to tell—and when we choose to extend or alter a structure, we are adding a new chapter to its tale. This was Studio Weave’s mindset as they set about adding a small timber extension to a stone cottage in Devon, on the southwest coast of England.

"This isn’t just an extension, but part of a process of custodianship of the land and the structure that has been lovingly built by past occupants," explains architect Je Ahn. "Over the decades, it will evolve—and so we created a mini master plan, and all our decisions were made for longevity and sustainability."

The cottage has been on the site for a long time, with various ad hoc extensions and refurbishments taking place between the 1930s and 1990s. The newest extension replaced the garage and utility room at the rear. Like many typical cottages in the area, the structure is built from local stone with timber shutter windows.  

Photo by Jim Stephenson

The clients, Tom Baker and Natalie Silk, are no stranger to big-picture thinking. They run the UK record label Eat Your Own Ears, and cofounded the Field Day music festival (although they’re no longer affiliated). "We purchased the cottage seven years ago from owners who had been there for over 35 years," says Natalie. "It allows us a base from where we can work and spend time with our local family and friends, in an area that we care about deeply."

"We found Studio Weave’s work and instantly connected with their designs, feeling their playful, instinctive approach would neatly balance modern design in a natural setting," say the clients, Tom Baker and Natalie Silk. "They worked closely with our builder, David Joyce, to bring the space to life." 

Photo by Jim Stephenson

The cottage is located in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Devon, and the name of the project—Made of Sand—comes from the site’s previous use as a sandpit.  

Photo by Jim Stephenson

See the full story on Dwell.com: A Timber Artist’s Retreat Sprouts Beside a Stone Cottage in England
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