The Eco Upgrade Design-Led Homeowners Are Loving

Few places embody this new luxury-meets-sustainability mindset better than coastal retreat Rooks & Cove. Perched discreetly on the Devon coastline, the architect-designed hideaway blends high-end aesthetics with serious environmental credentials – and at its core is a heat pump system quietly redefining luxury comfort. To understand more, we spoke to the owners about building a sustainable property without compromising on design, comfort or guest experience.

“We have a heat pump, recommended to us by Total Renewables who supplied it,” says homeowner Ross Travill. “We went with their recommendations as all the brands seemed to be very similar in looks and efficiency. As this provides all the heating and hot water, it was essential to get a reliable and cost-effective system. The fact that it is three times more energy efficient than a traditional gas boiler is amazing.

“Being timber framed and timber clad – the cladding coming from local woodlands – I think it is easier to be more sustainable. The main issue came with the foundations and being able to anchor the buildings into the rocky coastal ground. Concrete piles were used for both properties, however, the amount of concrete used is still considerably less than conventional strip footings.

“While we don’t have any specific environmental certification, our aim was to build very energy efficient buildings by simply insulating well and using sympathetic materials. The heat pump was a big factor in us winning the Devon Building Control award for excellence which is testament to our sustainability goals as well as the overall aesthetic.

“It would be great to add solar PV panels to lessen our electrical demand from the grid, however, the shade from large trees on the site does make this less viable. We’re currently talking to installers to see if there is a solution. If we don’t install panels then we’d like to incorporate a green roof on to Rooks, which would lend itself well to this, adding further scope to create a varied, low maintenance habitat for wildlife, insects and native plants.”