The cliffside house, which took over 10 years to build, features a cantilevered first floor with a large amount of glazing framing its dramatic landscape. It replaces an inward-looking existing house which required major work. After an initial site meeting in 2012, it was decided to sit the new home within the footprint of the existing property. It has a deep floorplan with a central axis orientated towards the Irish Sea. The first floor accommodates kitchen and living space, expressed through dark interiors and exposed timber beams to contrast with the blues and greens of the sea and surrounding landscape.Advertisement A bedroom features a large sliding window, which is mounted externally to create the illusion that the whole wall opens to the view. On the streetside, the façade is softer, using the main staircase to define the elevation with angled timber slats providing privacy. The slated segment of the façade also allows light to penetrate a double-height entrance at the heart of the scheme. On the ground floor are the utility spaces and a multi-use bedroom-cum-study, placed towards the street to provide a buffer to the more private spaces. All spaces are united by exposed concrete finishes. Concrete, cantilevered foundations anchor the home on to the site, securing its stability and safeguarding against future environmental risks. The fair-faced concrete has horizontal sawn timber shuttering as a nod to local stonework patterns. Above this is a highly insulated, lightweight glulam structure on the first floor. This is clad in low-maintenance fibre cement tiles as an affordable alternative to slate, which is resistant to strong sea winds.Advertisement Edge House was granted planning in 2012 and was constructed in phases by the client’s husband, enabling the family to move in sooner and progress the project as budget allowed. Architect’s view Our design for Edge House is shaped by the constraints and opportunities of its dramatic clifftop setting. Navigating the site’s exposure to harsh and changeable weather, we sought to create a home that remains deeply connected to its surroundings without compromise. A concrete substructure allows the house to rest on cantilevered foundations, enabling it to extend towards the cliff edge while anchoring securely into the most stable, inland portion of the site. With coastal erosion accelerating due to climate change, this approach ensures the home’s long-term integrity, maintaining its position even as the landscape shifts over time. The façade pairs fair-faced concrete with black-fibre cement tiles, balancing structural solidity with durability. These materials not only withstand the extreme conditions but also require minimal maintenance, ensuring the home weathers beautifully over the years. Inside, the layout reinforces this commitment to longevity. The three bedrooms break away from the orthogonal plan, appearing carved from the concrete form. Angled away from the cliff edge, they frame uninterrupted sea views while forming a defensible barrier against the elements. This considered geometry also reduces the home’s visual impact on its neighbours, embedding it sensitively within the landscape. Kristian Hyde, director, Hyde + Hyde Architects   Project data Location Aberporth, Ceredigion, Wales Start on site September 2012 Completion date November 2023 Gross internal floor area 227m2 (client’s ownership boundary: 500m2, external landscaping: 140m2) Gross (internal + external) floor area 366.5m2 Form of contract or procurement route JCT Minor Works with Contractors Design Portion Construction cost Undisclosed Architect Hyde + Hyde Architects Client Private Structural engineer Grays Consulting Engineers M&E consultant Richards Design Partnership Quantity surveyor Ivor Russell Partnership Sustainability consultant Melin Energy Planning consultant Geraint John Planning Main contractor Neil Manfield CAD software used Vectorworks Environmental performance data On-site energy generation Nil Airtightness at 50Pa 4.62 m3/h.m2 Operational energy 79 kWh/m2/yr Total energy load 57.43 kWh/m2/yr Predicted design life 60 years Energy Performance Certificate rating B