Fearne Hill
This landscape-led new country house on the Isle of Wight combines the creation of an exceptional new home with long-term ecological restoration and responsible land stewardship. At its heart, the project is about reconnecting modern rural living with the historic and ecological character of the land. Set within a historic farmstead on the Isle of Wight, the project pairs a meticulously crafted new home with an ambitious programme of ecological regeneration — delivering a house that does more than sit in the countryside; it contributes to its future.
Being collaboratively developed under Paragraph 84e of the National Planning Policy framework alongside a environmentally and low-embodied carbon team including Webb Yates, Studio 31 and Rural Solutions this is an architecture that treads lightly.
Modest in scale yet precise in execution, the architecture relies on clarity rather than grandeur. A restrained palette of timber and stone allows the house to weather naturally into its surroundings, while carefully recessed openings control light, views and solar gain. Every design decision is purposeful — from the curved form following the contours of the land to the discreet arrival sequence that prioritises landscape over driveway. The architecture serves the site, not the other way around.
Project Info
- Location: Isle of Wight
- Cost: £1.5 millon
- Collaborators: Webb Yates, Studio 31, Rural Solutions, MESH
- Image Credit: PAD studio
Environmental Data
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Energy Efficiency
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
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Insulation
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
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Airtightness
1 2 3
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Solar PV
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
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Embodied Carbon
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
- Heating/Hot Water
-
Solar Thermal
Yes No
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Rain Water Harvest
Yes No
- Ventilation
-
Energy Storage
Yes No
Rather than imposing a building onto the site, the design begins with the landscape itself. Historic mapping, existing hedgerows and subtle changes in topography revealed a former farmstead plateau — a natural, time tested place for habitation. The new home carefully re inhabits this ground, allowing the land to guide its form, orientation and presence. The result is a house that is quiet, grounded and deeply connected to its setting. Set into the slope and revealed gradually on approach, the building is felt long after it is seen — emerging as part of the landscape rather than an object upon it.
Submitted under Paragraph 84(e), Little Upton demonstrates what “exceptional quality” truly means. Not through scale or spectacle, but through thoughtful design, environmental responsibility and a profound understanding of place.
It is a project that shows how new homes in the countryside can enhance landscape character, restore ecological function and offer a replicable model for progressive rural architecture.
Sustainability at Its Core. As a landscape led new country house, environmental performance is not an add on — it is fundamental. The home is designed to operate at net zero carbon, combining a fabric first approach with low impact construction and on site renewable energy. A predominantly timber structure, screw pile foundations and locally sourced materials dramatically reduce embodied carbon, while high insulation levels, airtightness and passive solar strategies ensure exceptionally low energy demand. Water is harvested, treated and reused on site. External lighting is minimal and carefully controlled to protect dark skies and wildlife. The result is a home that gives back more than it takes.
A Landscape in Recovery. Fearne Hill extends far beyond the house itself. The wider project includes a comprehensive landscape restoration strategy rooted in long term stewardship.
• Thousands of new trees and shrubs
• Reinstated historic hedgerows
• Species rich wildflower meadows
• New ponds and wetland habitats
• Strengthened wildlife corridors aligned with the Isle of Wight Local Nature Recovery Strategy
Low intensity grazing and chemical free land management support biodiversity while re establishing the character of a working rural landscape. Agricultural buildings and stables are carefully sited to reinforce historic settlement patterns and keep the focus on land management, not domestic sprawl.
Heading to planning following a positive pre-application consultation Fearne Hill is more than a single dwelling. It is a holistic project where architecture, landscape and ecology work together to regenerate land, support wildlife and demonstrate a responsible future for rural development. The result is a quiet, refined piece of architecture embedded in a restored landscape — a home that gives back more than it takes.
We are looking forward to celebrating this family home further as it progresses through planning and onto site.