Grand Designs House Of The Year 2022: Top Contenders Revealed

• Derbyshire

This quirky 1967 house, which was previously damp and cold to live in, has been brought into the 21st century in style. Blending mid-century modern furniture, innovative underfloor heating and construction details that took inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright, Ravine House is a great blend of restoration and new discoveries.

– Featured in episode one of Grand Designs House of the Year (Hard to Build Houses)

• Scotland

A labour of love, Ostro Passivhaus was built over a period of eight years of evenings and weekends by the architect owners. Ensuring that it met the exacting mathematical standards of the Passivhaus certification was key to the cube-like design. With design features reminiscent of Mackintosh’s Hill House, the two-storey eco home clad in timber, utilises ingenious storage solutions too, such as hidden drawers in the steps and a gin store next to the kitchen worktop.

– Featured in episode one of Grand Designs House of the Year (Hard to Build Houses)

• Suffolk

With a modern extension to a grade II listed Victorian house, The Parchment Works marries indoor and outdoor rooms that are flanked by the ruined walls of what was an historic parchment factory. By inventively re-using existing structures along with reclaimed and upcycled materials, this small extension has resulted in some incredible impact.

• Norfolk

Taking what was originally a garage and transforming it into a simple single-storey extension, The Garden Studio has become a designated art studio which opens onto an enlarged kitchen. The pale timber highlights its fresh and spacious appearance, as do the number of windows and skylight which let in plenty of natural light.

• West Sussex

The Dutch Barn is unlike many other private homes. Firstly, the surrounding gardens have been made into a wonderful eight-acre public garden, with the historic barn sitting right in the heart of it. And the public can even take in an elevated view of the gardens from the custom-built viewing tower. Inside, the house is designed upside down, with the ground floor containing the bedrooms and a home office. While upstairs, there is one large space to enjoy.

• London

Named after the neighbourhood that it resides in, Surbiton Springs is a contemporary two-bedroomed new-build home, with the white exterior harkening back to the long tradition of modern white villas and civic buildings being customary in the area since the 1930s. The traditional A-frame is blended with a mock Tudor-style to give it a modern but unique appearance, which might even remind you of a summer house in Palm Springs.

• London

Replacing what was previously an unsightly garage and general dumping ground, the Peeking House was developed into a four level home, despite its tight and somewhat constrained site size. With the first of two lower floors situated a half level below ground, as well as a basement level, every inch of space has been designed thoughtfully.

• Norfolk

Starting out as a weekend home fantasy yet turning into a permanent everyday family home, Norfolk Barn has taken the steel frame of the original agricultural building and altered the space into one of luxury. With an indoor swimming pool at the heart of the home, sleek natural materials being used throughout and even a transplanted ancient olive tree, it truly evokes the excitement of a holiday somewhere far away.

• London

Refurbishing an existing end-terrace mews in London meant stripping out the original interior to create a much more sustainable and energy efficient home. A detailed light timber staircase connects three levels of living spaces, with a retractable roof light making even more of a feature of the central column of the property.

• Cambridgeshire

This upside-down Passivhaus-style home, Mere House, has an upstairs kitchen and living room, as well as a bedroom that looks out for miles across the surrounding fens. On the ground floor, there is an additional spare bedroom, a study, and several utility spaces. Outside is a garden with several vegetable plots, a rainwater harvester and several other features to conserve water, with the owner hoping to be self-sufficient over their lifetime.

• Northern Ireland

Situated within the part walled demesne of Ballyscullion Park, on the shores of Lough Beg in Ulster, the House at Lough Beg took 10 years to complete. Instead of having its own manicured garden, the owners have embraced the natural parkland, with several different points within the home enjoying the beautiful landscape views outside.

• Derbyshire

A house that was deliberately designed to look pulled apart, Derwent Valley Villa’s separate living spaces are spread out over the grounds. You’ll find the entrance and guest wing in the southeast corner, while the primary residence is located to the northwest. It’s all about letting the outside in in this home, with garden courts as outdoor rooms, which can be appreciated at any time of day or night.

• Dorset

Having previously seen very little change since it was used to store farm machinery for 40 years, The Cowshed now houses a breathtaking library, an office, a kitchen and a bathroom. Oak has been used throughout to add a bright, calming appearance to the space. And while it does not contain a full bedroom, there is a pull-out double sofa bed in the central nave space.

• Scotland

Taking two small, damp flats and transforming them into a one-bedroom property, The Den had many of the RIBA jury members considering a move to the coastal village of Tighnabruaich in Scotland. The juxtaposition of the black vertical-striped cladding outside, to the raw and natural stone inside, allows this home to look both modern and cosy at the same time.

Follow House Beautiful on Instagram.