Welsh seaside home by Hyde + Hyde sits on the edge of a cliff
A cedar-clad balcony spans the facade of this house designed by Hyde + Hyde, which is perched on the edge of cliff on the southern Welsh shoreline (+ slideshow).
![Cliff House by Hyde and Hyde](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/Cliff-house-by-Hyde-and-Hyde_dezeen_468_6.jpg)
Welsh studio Hyde + Hyde designed Cliff House to make the most of the coastal scenery, from a vantage point overlooking the sea where the Bristol Channel meets the Atlantic Ocean.
To this end, the architects turned the traditional house layout upside-down, moving the living room onto the first floor so that it can benefit from the elevated views.
![Cliff House by Hyde and Hyde](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/Cliff-house-by-Hyde-and-Hyde_dezeen_468_2.jpg)
A dining room and kitchen runs along the rear and side of the space, allowing a large balcony to stretch around the south and west elevations, behind floor-to-ceiling glazing that slides open.
![Cliff House by Hyde and Hyde](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/Cliff-house-by-Hyde-and-Hyde_dezeen_468_12.jpg)
"Ascending into the kitchen and living room on the first floor to a sweeping view of the south Wales coastline is the culmination of your journey through the house," architect Kay Hyde told Dezeen.
"The ever-changing light and atmospheric conditions offered by the ocean contribute to an ethereal and relaxing environment."
![Cliff House by Hyde and Hyde](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/Cliff-house-by-Hyde-and-Hyde_dezeen_468_7.jpg)
Insulated concrete formwork was used to give the residence a robust, energy-efficient structure. Elevations are finished in a muted grey render, contrasting with the cedar planks that clad the protruding volume of the balcony to "balance the heaviness".
![Cliff House by Hyde and Hyde](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/Cliff-house-by-Hyde-and-Hyde_dezeen_468_5.jpg)
"Cedar was an obvious choice for its natural resistance to the maritime climate and also to introduce an element of domesticity and warmth to the project," said Hyde.
![Cliff House by Hyde and Hyde](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/Cliff-house-by-Hyde-and-Hyde_dezeen_468_8.jpg)
Angled louvres offer protection from the prevailing south-westerly winds, and also offer some privacy for residents, while a glazed front balustrade allows continuous views.
![Cliff House by Hyde and Hyde](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/Cliff-house-by-Hyde-and-Hyde_dezeen_468_10.jpg)
The entrance to the house is also positioned along the sea-facing southern elevation, so both this and a car parking space are sheltered beneath the balcony.
![Cliff House by Hyde and Hyde](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/Cliff-house-by-Hyde-and-Hyde_dezeen_468_11.jpg)
The ground floor of the house is organised around a simple corridor that divides the space up into three areas.
To the left is a music room – where residents can sit down at a piano – and a bedroom. The two rooms to the right include a private study and a bathroom, while a master bedroom with an en suite and large dressing room are tucked away at the rear.
![Cliff House by Hyde and Hyde](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/Cliff-house-by-Hyde-and-Hyde_dezeen_468_9.jpg)
An air-sourced heat pump provides energy for heating, which is distributed through the interior via an underfloor heating system. Solar panels on the roof supplement this by creating a heat source for water.
![Cliff House by Hyde and Hyde](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/Cliff-house-by-Hyde-and-Hyde_dezeen_468_1.jpg)
"Elements of the design ensure that the building's long term energy performance will be exceptional," added the architects.
![Cliff House by Hyde and Hyde](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/Cliff-house-by-Hyde-and-Hyde_dezeen_468_0.jpg)
The site is bounded by an existing stone wall, to which the architects have added a new wooden gate.
![Cliff House by Hyde and Hyde](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/Cliff-house-by-Hyde-and-Hyde_dezeen_468_3.jpg)
Photography is by David Schnabel.
![Cliff House by Hyde and Hyde](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/Cliff-house-by-Hyde-and-Hyde_dezeen_0.gif)
![Cliff House by Hyde and Hyde](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/Cliff-house-by-Hyde-and-Hyde_dezeen_1.gif)
![Cliff House by Hyde and Hyde](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/Cliff-house-by-Hyde-and-Hyde_dezeen_2.gif)
![Cliff House by Hyde and Hyde](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/08/Cliff-house-by-Hyde-and-Hyde_dezeen_3.gif)