Wayside
Devon
Architects: Roderick James Architects
Engineers: Ballantine Arnold Ltd.
Highlights: Winner of Build It Awards 2025 Best Oak Frame Home, three-storey atrium, floor to ceiling library
This oak-framed upside-down home makes an immediate impression with its dramatic vaulted living space, where the beautifully crafted award-winning oak structure is the star of the show. A three-storey atrium, crowned with a lantern rooflight, fills the heart of the house with natural light, while a stunning two-storey library creates a true focal point. Books line almost every wall, even following the curve of the winding staircase for a striking architectural feature.
With the bedrooms on the ground floor, the first floor opens into the impressive, vaulted living area, where the green oak frame shapes the kitchen, dining, and lounge spaces around a central fireplace.
Expansive floor-to-ceiling glazing floods the interior with light, enhancing the sense of space and connection to the outdoors. The green oak balcony adds warmth and character, providing a peaceful spot to unwind and take in the views with a glass of wine or a cup of tea.
As sustainable as it is beautiful, the home incorporates elements from an air source heat pump for heating and hot water to mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system for continuous fresh air.
This home is truly a deserving winner in every sense and Westwind Oak feel honoured to have been awarded 'Best Oak Frame Home' at the Build It Awards 2025.
Photographer: Richard Downer Photography
