Otter Farm

Project:
Otter Farm

Client:
Mark Diacono, former Head Gardener for River Cottage

Location:
Honiton, Devon

Description:
Mark Diacono, former Head Gardener for River Cottage, produces a vast array of unusual foods on his small-holding at Otter Farm. We were commissioned to design two ground breaking buildings: a winery and farm shop, and a kitchen garden school with associated dwelling. The buildings needed to reflect the idea of growing, selling, and consuming produce, be inherently sustainable, and be sympathetic to the characteristics of the local landscape.
Inspired by the site’s productive land, the concept is for the buildings to emulate ploughed ground. The roof forms ‘peel’ up from the ground to reveal the buildings below. These feature a combination of glazing and untreated timber, which will silver and soften over time, and green roofs will be planted with a wildflower seed mix, developing into traditional wildflower meadows that will form part of the landscape. Views from the buildings to the winery gardens will allow visitors to appreciate the connection between food and the landscape.
The buildings are constructed using timber frames in order to achieve the blade roof form and sustainability requirements. They will be highly insulated using 100% recycled newspaper, with reclaimed materials also being used for the flooring in both buildings. High cob walls form external spaces for growing produce as well as for visitors to enjoy eating it. Ground source heat pump technology will provide the buildings with all of their energy requirements.