We were invited to submit ideas for a family home on a fantastic site looking out over Wootton Creek in Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight.

The brief called for accommodation for a family of 5, with guest rooms, an outdoor pool and boat house.

As the site slopes towards the water, the building will be sat on ‘piloti’ above the flood plain, dividing the site into two halves: an enclosed sheltered garden away from the water with an orchard and herb garden; and an open wildflower meadow running down to the creek.

We investigated different roof forms as a means to capture natural light as it tracks around the house during the day. Bedrooms would benefit from shafts of morning sunlight, whereas the evening sun would flood into the living room.