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Project story: Case study 1

Wayside (ARCO2 Architects)

Ian Armstrong, Director, ARCO2 Architecture Ltd

"The clarity stood out right away. You captured the essence in simple words that clients would understand, which made it easy for us to move ahead. The whole process felt straightforward and it helped us see our work from a different angle. If another practice is unsure, we would say give it a go."

Before

Wayside

Location: Cornwall, UK PROJECT

 

The existing bungalow which was of simple form and holding no historical significance has been replaced by a beautiful sustainable dwelling which is homely, convenient and spatially comfortable that utilises a vernacular palette of materials and styles that have provided an exemplar benefit to the local area.

 

PANORAMIC COASTAL VIEWS

By having the living accommodation arranged on the first floor of this impressive family home we have been able to capture the views to the west over the beach.

 

DESIGN FEATURES

Uninterrupted Beach and Sea Views Covered Balconies For Enjoying Summer Evenings

External Walls Orchestrated To Eliminate Overlooking

 

OPEN PLAN LIVING

A multi-generational living solution for the client and their family was to design social spaces which were interconnected along with private amenity space when needed.

Individual Open Plan Lounge, Kitchen and Dining Areas

Flow of Access Between Living Accommodation Abundance of Natural Light Throughout

After

The approach and the impact​

The Project

  • Client: ARCO2 Architecture

  • Location: Mawgan Porth, Cornwall

  • Goal: Make the project story clearer for web

 

Before

  • Long paragraphs and planning language

  • Features listed, but the family’s story and day‑to‑day experience were hard to feel

  • Sustainability read as technical, not as comfort or lower running costs

​

What I did

  • Led with the why: living with a parent, privacy with connection, rooted in Cornwall

  • Clear path: Problem → Wish → Design choices → Materials and systems → Result in daily life

  • Turned specs into benefits (MVHR = fresh air; GSHP + underfloor = steady warmth; triple glazing = quiet comfort)

  • Kept policy/context, but in plain words

  • Broke it into short sections for web; created a new magazine version

 

What changed in the story

  • From “replacement dwelling” to “a home shaped by place, light, and future living”

  • Materials tied to meaning (stone/timber/slate = Cornwall, not just a list)

  • Constraints shown as good neighbour decisions and smart siting

  • Future‑proofing explained without jargon

 

Why this helps architects

  • Prospects understand the design and how it feels to live in

  • Keeps accuracy while making it easy to read and reuse

  • Opens the door to better questions on calls

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