Lind Valley House

About the Project:

Contemporary Replacement Dwelling in Exminster, Devon

Set within a generous, elevated plot on the edge of Exminster, this replacement dwelling reimagines an existing property as a contemporary family home that is far better suited to modern living, long-term occupation and its surrounding landscape. The existing dwelling had reached the point where meaningful refurbishment was no longer the most effective route, with issues including poor thermal performance, damp, water ingress and structural defects. Our approach was to design a new home that not only resolved these limitations, but created a more thoughtful, sustainable and enjoyable place to live. The design builds on an existing planning approval for a replacement dwelling, but significantly refines the original proposal. By repositioning the home closer to the footprint and orientation of the existing building, the revised scheme reduces the overall developed area, protects more of the established landscape and lessens the visual impact of the dwelling within its setting. A key part of the brief was to create a home that works beautifully for family life. The layout is arranged around generous connected living spaces, a sheltered courtyard, family garden privacy, practical everyday routes and carefully framed views across Exminster and towards Topsham. The ground floor includes a large kitchen, dining and living arrangement, snug, games room, gym, boot room, garage and utility spaces, while the first floor provides six bedrooms including a master suite, guest bedroom and family accommodation. Architecturally, the dwelling has been designed as a series of stepped, contemporary forms that sit into the landscape rather than dominate it. Stone cladding grounds the lower level, while timber composite cladding softens the upper floor against the surrounding trees. Powder-coated aluminium and feature copper detailing add a refined, contemporary finish, with the copper taking inspiration from the red stone exposed within the nearby landscape. Sustainability was central to the design. The proposal includes a carefully orientated roof-mounted PV array, battery storage, air source heat pump, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, EV charging and passive design measures such as solar orientation, shading and natural daylight. The wider site strategy also incorporates ecological enhancement, including wildflower grassland, native trees, bird nesting provision and bat boxes, alongside tree protection measures to safeguard the established landscape structure during construction. The result is a bespoke contemporary replacement dwelling near Exeter that balances architecture, landscape, family life and sustainability, creating a home designed not just for today, but for the future.