The Pivot House is an example of a Paragraph 84 where special planning exemption is given for unique homes in green belt areas
Paragraph 84 homes are with strict planning guidelines required(Image credit: The Modern House)
The Pivot House is a rare example of a Paragraph 84 home – one of the few in the country to meet the stringent planning requirements for exceptional architecture in rural settings.
Designed by Studio Bark, the five-bedroom self build, is an innovative off-grid dwelling, blending sustainable technologies with biophilic design principles.
What makes Pivot House truly distinctive is its gabion-walled exterior, an architectural statement that merges modern construction with traditional materials, allowing the home to settle seamlessly into its natural surroundings.
A house rooted in nature: The gabion wall and charred timber exterior
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The house is built around a central courtyard and tree(Image credit: The Modern House)
The garage is also built from timber cladding(Image credit: The Modern House)
The timber cladding mixes with the gabion exterior(Image credit: The Modern House)
The self build is built on a slope(Image credit: The Modern House)
The Pivot House’s exterior is a sculptural fusion of gabion walls, charred timber cladding, and undulating green roofs, creating a façade that feels both modern and organic.
The gabion walls, constructed using locally quarried flint, act as a natural buffer between the house and its landscape. The varying sizes of flints within the wire mesh not only create an eye-catching textural finish but also serve as an ecological feature, providing shelter for insects and small wildlife.
Complementing the flintwork is the use of charred timber cladding, which enhances the home’s weather resistance while lending a dramatic contrast to the paler stone. This Shou Sugi Ban technique, a traditional Japanese method of charring wood, increases the material’s durability and creates a striking visual interplay with the gabion walls.
Above, the home’s monopitched sedum roofs echo the gentle rise and fall of the surrounding landscape, further embedding the building into its environment. The overall effect is a home that feels like an extension of the land itself, blurring the boundaries between architecture and nature.
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Why ‘Pivot House’? The story behind the name
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A dining area sits at the centre of the house(Image credit: The Modern House)
The interiors show the complicated design of the house(Image credit: The Modern House)
The entrance to the house is an astounding charred timber ceiling and front(Image credit: The Modern House)
The interior uses much lighter timber(Image credit: The Modern House)
The name Pivot House is a direct reference to its bio-inspired structure and the way it interacts with its setting.
The home is anchored by a central courtyard, with living spaces radiating outward in a parabolic arrangement – a design directly influenced by the random yet structured growth of trees.
At the heart of the design is a single existing tree, around which the architectural plan pivots, mirroring the natural branching of woodland canopies. This courtyard spine floods the interiors with light while serving as a focal point that connects the home’s various wings.
Pivot House is not just a name – it reflects a fundamental design principle that ties the building to its environment, reinforcing its status as a truly site-responsive home.
A sustainable vision: Inside the off-grid home
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The home uses a variety of eco features(Image credit: The Modern House)
The house fits up to three bedrooms(Image credit: The Modern House)
The dark exterior is in contrast to the exterior(Image credit: The Modern House)
Underfloor heating is used throughout to help the house gain its EPC rating of 'A'(Image credit: The Modern House)
While Pivot House’s exterior is a striking architectural statement, its off-grid performance is just as impressive. The home was designed to be self-sufficient, with a range of sustainable energy systems in place:
EPC ‘A’ rating thanks to its highly insulated timber-framed construction
Private borehole water supply and an on-site drainage system for full water self-sufficiency
Inside, the home embraces a restrained material palette of smooth plaster, timber and stone, creating a calm, contemporary aesthetic. Expansive floor-to-ceiling glazing ensures a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces, reinforcing the home’s connection to nature.
With its sustainable ethos, innovative design, and Paragraph 84 status, Pivot House is a rare and exceptional example of rural contemporary architecture mixed with an eco house, proving that low-impact living and high design can go hand in hand.
The self build is for sale on The Modern House for £1.4 million.
News Editor Joseph has previously written for Today’s Media and Chambers & Partners, focusing on news for conveyancers and industry professionals. Joseph has just started his own self build project, building his own home on his family’s farm with planning permission for a timber frame, three-bedroom house in a one-acre field. The foundation work has already begun and he hopes to have the home built in the next year. Prior to this he renovated his family's home as well as doing several DIY projects, including installing a shower, building sheds, and livestock fences and shelters for the farm’s animals. Outside of homebuilding, Joseph loves rugby and has written for Rugby World, the world’s largest rugby magazine.
