Unknown Works Transforms Welsh Cottage into Stealthy Seaside Retreat

London-based architecture studio Unknown Works has completed the renovation of White Breakers, a single-storey cottage on the edge of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in Wales, overlooking the Irish Sea. The project aimed to improve functionality and sustainability while maintaining a discreet, 'stealthy' presence. The exterior features dark colours, while the interior uses bright whites and timber accents, creating a warm and sophisticated atmosphere. Energy efficiency was a priority, with decisions informed by the goal of a low carbon footprint in construction and habitation. A bat box was installed to support biodiversity. The clients, a creative couple based in London's Notting Hill, are long-term collaborators of the studio; their London home was Unknown Works' first completed project in 2016. This relationship allowed for in-depth discussions about necessary updates. Unknown Works director Kaowen Ho described the original building as 'a bit of a Frankenstein building,' citing energy inefficiency, ad hoc extensions, water ingress, thermal bridging, and damp, as well as a warren of small spaces with no sensible layout. The renovation addressed these issues, resulting in a 'stealthy, subtle and restrained design' with a low-slung black exterior and a soft, bright interior. The project was featured in Wallpaper* magazine, with the article written by Ellie Stathaki, the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*.