Situated in a wonderfully desolate, once-industrial landscape, Camel Quarry House sits above the shores of the Camel Estuary in Cornwall, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Its form is simple – a rugged exterior faces the quarry and estuary and a smoother façade looks out on to the more sheltered, rural landscape behind. The living area is on the uppermost floor, making the most of the extraordinary views, with a connecting terrace to spill out onto when the weather is fine.

We decided to photograph the house again, 15 years after construction, curious to see how it has settled into its surroundings, both inside and out.

The external slate walls are now punctuated with native ferns and plants, blurring the boundary between house and landscape. The result is a building that appears to nestle even more comfortably into the natural environment.

When we designed and built the house in 2007, materials were chosen to be robust and to age beautifully. Inside, the now well-trodden timber floors soften the living spaces and bedrooms, bringing character and warmth.

Both the original leather sofa and dining table carry the patina of good times and memories made, and it is pleasing to see the property ageing well and as we intended.

Designed and built to be an informal and practical family home, the house continues to be an impressive example of sustainable living, with heavily insulated walls and roof, triple-glazed windows, ground source heat pumps, solar panels and other low energy solutions.