Clifftop House by Joe Adsett Architects represents an innovative solution to a challenging site.Originally, the site presented as a triangular parcel of land apologetically wedged between grand, sweeping residences in a leafy suburban street in Teneriffe. A poorly constructed character house existed awkwardly on the site, as it sat upon a dramatic cliff face. Now, Clifftop House stands as an imposing structure within the suburb, boasting scenic river views accompanied by a weathered and natural material palette.

This three storey extension utilises concrete as the main fabric of the building, leaving it deliberately exposed and finished in a rustic manner. Timber window frames and cladding soften the architecture from a Brutalist statement to an expression of a finely detailed and crafted interior tailored to the complex dynamic.

Bedrooms were split between the original house and extension, with the living areas on the ground floor and the third storey designed as a family room and roof garden. Through complex ingenuity and innovation, timber frames, environmental glass and concrete walls allow the structure to withstand tropical summer afternoons and crisp winter mornings. The long thin building envelope encourages natural light and ventilation, along with the swimming pool extending along the cliff edge to provide cooling breezes to living spaces.

Metallic colorbond steel has been used for its sleek appearance and enduring quality, with the colour astro complementing the natural palette. The material is custom folded into cassette panels, flashings and cappings to create a breathable external skin to the masonry frame. What better way to celebrate the elegance of Tenerrife than by living in a monument to environmental sustainability, ground breaking engineering, and lustrous appearance.

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