The Local Project features River Hearth House

Guided By Nature

With only the brick fireplace remaining from the original home, River Heath House is artfully arranged around this central feature as a tribute to the past. Arcke’s focus is on creating connections with the natural surrounds through permeable forms, allowing for generous openings and clear visual access between the interior and exterior spaces.

Committed to proposing sustainable architecture, Arcke ensures that River Hearth House follows to this guiding principle. Although the entirety of the original dwelling could not be retained, the utilisation of the standing fireplace serves as a timeless totem, bridging eras on site. Positioned at the centre, the fireplace carries both symbolic and functional significance, providing warmth to the heart of the home, which radiates outward. Embracing a deeply functional approach, Arcke draws inspiration from the nearby river to navigate the site. The design captures the changing movements of the sun as well as the seasonal changes in the landscape through a collection of forms that harmonise amid the established trees, consistently offering views of the river.

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