Restorative Rural Retreat for Sartfell

Sartfell, a restorative retreat situated within the UNESCO World Biosphere Landscape on the Isle of Man, weaves together contemporary architecture and landscape restoration to create a new nature reserve. This 370 sqm dwelling is more than a residence; it's a vision crafted in close collaboration with our clients—a retired scientist and teacher with deep expertise in zoology, insect neurology, and biological sciences—alongside the Manx Wildlife Trust. Their profound respect for the island's biosphere status is the project's foundation, which forms part of a broader masterplan that will include a Visitors’ Centre, also designed by us, to promote biodiversity education.

The retreat’s design integrates site-sourced stone, hand-laid by local craftsmen, with carefully considered voids to encourage local ecology, fostering harmony between architecture and landscape. A weather station was crucial to the process, collecting data to inform the building's form and orientation, especially for window placement in response to the island’s severe weather conditions. Drawing on our expertise in lighting design, we studied daylight and sunpaths to maximize natural light while controlling solar gain; windows are recessed and framed in Corten steel to reduce reflections and prevent overheating.

The upper ground floor—the living space—is punctuated by a ribbon window that evokes the feel of a bird hide, framing expansive views of the landscape. At the core of the retreat is the ‘Knowledge Centre,’ running across all three levels, symbolizing the clients’ vision for education and the environment, creating a lasting legacy for scientists, educators, and nature enthusiasts.

A staircase aligns poetically with the mountain views, crowned by a clerestory that captures shifting island light, animating the concrete interior with shafts of luminescence. The retreat is powered by sustainable energy sources: a ground-source heat pump within a lake, wind turbine, and heat recovery system, achieving zero-carbon energy use. Sartfell’s sustainable credentials have been recognized with an RIBA regional Award, in addition to a national RIBA award for Sustainability.

The project was designed and delivered in partnership with Conisbee structural engineers, embodying a seamless blend of architecture, landscape, and ecology.