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A House amongst the Dunes

About

Positioned directly on the shoreline in Thorpeness, Suffolk, Dune House by Jarmund/Vigsnæs Architects is a carefully resolved response to both landscape and context, a house conceived as part of the dune itself, where a concrete base is embedded into the land and a timber roof structure appears to hover above. Developed from a simple early concept described as “a house within the sand dunes,” the architecture draws directly from its surroundings while reinterpreting the local language of pitched roofs, material contrast, and coastal exposure.

Arrival is deliberately understated and controlled. An inclined concrete walkway leads down into the building, partially submerged within the dunes, before opening into a fully glazed ground floor where 360 degree windows establish immediate visual connection with the sea and surrounding landscape. This level is conceived as a single, continuous space: an open plan kitchen, dining, and living area wrapped in glazing, with large sliding panels that retract to create a seamless indoor/outdoor environment and direct access to the beach just metres away.

The idea was a single, open ground-floor space, with glass on all sides, allowing for both communal use and uninterrupted views. For production, this translates into a highly flexible volume with long sight lines, consistent natural light throughout the day, and multiple access points to the exterior, enabling fluid movement between interior scenes and coastal backdrops. The integration of terraces and external spaces extends the usable footprint, offering additional staging positions and camera angles without breaking spatial continuity.

Materially, the ground floor is anchored by board marked and polished concrete, treated in varying finishes to create texture and depth while maintaining a restrained palette. Timber soffits and ceilings are carefully detailed, with concealed lighting and directional boarding that subtly follows the path of the sun, reinforcing the sense of movement through the space. As one moves around the central core, the layout “unwinds,” guiding circulation from entrance to kitchen, through to dining and living areas in a continuous sequence.

Above, the architecture shifts in both geometry and atmosphere. The upper floor is formed from cross-laminated timber, creating a cluster of non linear rooms shaped by a roof that rises and falls in response to light, views, and privacy. “The straight line is not necessarily the quickest way to achieve good architecture,” and here, the absence of right angles produces a series of spaces that feel both dynamic and intimate. A central library landing anchors the plan, opening onto a semi enclosed terrace with elevated views across the sea, while four bedrooms extend from this central point, each with en suite bathroom and integrated bath.

The spatial hierarchy is deliberate: open and communal below, enclosed and private above, particularly in a setting designed to accommodate groups. Each bedroom is carefully positioned to capture specific views, from bed and bath, with windows set to frame either the sea or the surrounding meadow landscape, creating varied yet controlled visual compositions. The thickness of the walls forms integrated window seating, offering additional framing opportunities and usable spaces for production.