| Number: | 009 |
| Year: | 2021 |
| Name: | River Woods |
| Location: | Devon, UK |
| Type: | Ongoing |
| Project Team: | Gillian Shaffer, Florian Lepinard, Chinmayi Suri, Ruchi Singhania |
River Woods is a long-term project situated within Dartmoor National Park on a 10-acre site near Exeter. Shaped over many years by the park’s strict planning criteria, the design balances contemporary living with the vernacular and environmental character of the moor. Constructed with tilt-up planar volumes that echo the ancient dolmens scattered across Dartmoor, the house anchors itself to the historic landscape while occupying the top of a plateau with sweeping views of rivers, woods, and valleys. An elevated ground floor flows seamlessly between living, dining, kitchen, and sleeping areas, with full-height glazing that dissolves boundaries between inside and out. A sculptural stair leads to a private roof garden, while a carefully sited folly extends the architecture into the landscape, offering a contemplative retreat and panoramic views across the river woods.
