What Makes Them Winners? Standout Design Features from Our 2024 Build It Award-Winning Homes

Light-Filled Oak Home with Exposed Structural Details

Best Oak Frame Home, Oakwrights & PJT Design for Hedgerows

Long-time collaborators Oakwrights and PJT Design worked together to create this spectacular oak frame home in the Essex countryside. The house features a H-shaped floorplan, with the central entrance projecting out from the rest of the build for a stunning, triple-ridge roof.

Photo: Mark Watts

At design stage, Oakwrights produced a full 3D virtual tour, so the owners could assess the layout and flow between rooms and get a real sense of what the oak frame home would look like. The house features exposed oak details throughout, paired with wide spans of heritage-style glazing to create a timeless interior scheme.

WINNER’S VIEW Pete Tonks, architectural designer at PJT Design Hedgerows features many of my signature design details, such as large oak overhangs/verandas and slimline aluminium joinery from Kloeber – a blend I feel pairs beautifully with the oak frame from Oakwrights. Kloeber actually created this product specifically for Hedgerows and it really ticks all the right boxes architecturally. Another aspect I love is the internal flow of space and sense of connectivity between the ground floor and first floor. My design intent was to provide a space for the owners, Paul and Mandy, to live in which is free flowing while providing areas of privacy when required.

Listed Home Transformed with an Eco-Friendly Renovation

Best Architect for a Renovation Project, Rak Architecture for Shire End West

Rak Architecture have breathed new life into this grade II listed home perched high up on the Lyme Regis hillside. The house featured a series of tired extensions – which the couple wanted to remove and replace with a singular, more coherent addition, while also undertaking measures to improve the energy efficiency of the protected building.

Photo: Rak Architecture

The new 90m² extension is connected to the house via a clever glass link structure, which doubles as a light-filled entertaining space. The new structure’s stylish dark grey brickwork blends beautifully with the reinstated Welsh slate cladding on the original building. The home’s thermal performance was upgraded during the project, with sheep’s wool external insulation retrofitted to ensure a cosy family home.

WINNER’S VIEW Robert Keefe, founder at Rak Architecture One of my favourite aspects of Shire End West is that, everywhere you look the building celebrates a very simple traditional palette of materials, allowing the architecture and detailing to effortlessly create their own natural textures and patterns. One of the most interesting and enlightening aspects of the project for us, was just how far it is possible to improve and push the sustainable agenda for a listed building without losing any of the building’s charm.

Charming Coastal Home with an Upside Down Layout

Best Self Build or Renovation Project, Chris & Mary Noon

The desire to downsize from their family home in Surrey prompted Chris and Mary Noon to tackle their first self build – a stunning oak frame project in Dorset, with enviable views of the sea. “We started planning our next move when our two kids moved out about 10 years ago,” says Chris, who was keen to create something bespoke that he and Mary could enjoy in their retirement.

The couple explored various locations before settling on Bridport, Dorset, where they purchased a 1950s prefab bungalow located on a sloping plot with panoramic views. They soon started drawing up plans for a knock-down and rebuild project, engaging Roderick James Architects to help them create the perfect scheme.

Photo: Richard Downer

After two years and few planning hurdles, the family were finally ready to move into their dream home. The fantastic scheme was brought to life using an oak frame and structural insulated panels structural package from Westwind Oak, with the oak trusses left exposed for additional character. Inside, the upside down house layout means the living spaces are situated on the upper storey (the entrance level), allowing expansive countryside views and a light-filled, open home.

see the home

WINNER’S VIEW Chris & Mary Noon, homeowners “The house works wonderfully at Christmas when family visits,” says Mary. “Chris’s dad, who is 102, can stay in our room as he has everything he needs on the top floor. We move to the guest room downstairs, and there’s still plenty of space for the kids.” Reflecting on the build, the couple have zero regrets. “I’d recommend self building to anyone, though I wouldn’t do it again because what we’ve created here is so fantastic,” says Chris. Mary agrees: “You quickly get over any obstacles and you’re onto the next thing,” she says. “Building a house is like having a baby – you forget the pain once it’s over and can enjoy the benefits.”

Off-Grid Home in the Northumberland Countryside

Best Eco Home, SIPS@CLAYS for Westfield

Built on an elevated north-facing sloping plot in Northumberland, this low-carbon home has been constructed using a 142mm Kingspan TEK system, engineered and installed by SIPs@Clays. This is key to the house’s A-rating for energy efficiency, and its impressive 0.6m³/hr/m² airtightness result.

Photo: SIPS@Clays

Triple glazing, 6.4kW of solar panels, a 3kW wind turbine with lithium battery, bioethanol stove and an MVHR system all contribute to this low-energy home, enabling the owners to achieve their net zero targets.

WINNER’S VIEW Ian Clay, founding partner at SIPS@Clays This project is not only testament to the aspirational self builders and their commitment to creating an off-grid, net zero carbon lifestyle, but it also spotlights the benefits that SIPs provide in terms of their thermal superiority and low carbon footprint, which helped the homeowners to achieve their vision. The self build demonstrates that you don’t have to choose between form or function, or compromise on design. The home features light, bright rooms that have been left open to the eaves and an incredible oriel window with views over to Hadrian’s Wall and beyond.

Efficient & Beautiful Timber Frame Structure

Best Timber Frame Home, Timber Innovations for The Long Barn

Timber Innovations, TAS Architects and the homeowners worked together to create this contemporary timber frame home, bedded harmoniously into a woodland site. Consisting of two timber frame, barn-style volumes separated by a tranquil courtyard, the house features a low-key exterior that complements the surroundings perfectly.

Photo: Timber Innovations

Inside, the design makes full use of timber frame’s structural advantages, with elegant rafters, wide spans of glazing and lofty, vaulted ceilings.

WINNER’S VIEW David Himmons, managing director at Timber Innovations We’re really proud of our involvement in creating The Long Barn and it’s great to see this eco-friendly home achieving the recognition it deserves. The timber frame panels were factory insulated with wood fibre insulation – chosen for its natural and breathable characteristics. Together with airtightness and wind tightness membranes, this high-performance solution was chosen by our client to ensure low running costs whilst maximising embodied carbon. The use of glulam with steel tie rods to achieve full-height vaulted living areas is one of our favourite features.

ICF Home Finished with a Perfect Cladding Combination

Best ICF Home, ARCO2 Architecture for Ladybird Farm

This striking copper, stone and timber-clad self build replaces a traditional cottage that had been unsympathetically extended and altered in the late ’90s, removing much of the original fabric and charm.

Photo: Matthew Heritage

Constructed using insulated concrete formwork (ICF) and designed by ARCO2 Architecture, the new dwelling is a high-performance, low-carbon home that thoughtfully enhances its historical context. The new build features a 10kW Vaillant air source heat pump, an array of 4kW solar panels, paired with battery storage, and a mechanical ventilation system.

WINNER’S VIEW Ian Armstrong, director at ARCO2 Architecture Ladybird Farm is a remarkable, sustainable dwelling that blends seamlessly with its historical surroundings. Replacing a deteriorating cottage, the design respects traditional Cornish architecture while integrating ARCO2’s sustainable expertise. The project delivers a high-performance, low-carbon home that enhances the local area. Sustainability was a key focus when designing the home, and it’s amazing that the completed structure now surpasses Passivhaus U-value standards and achieves a minimal operational carbon footprint of just 15 kWh/m²/year.

Sympathetic Exterior Brick Design

Best Brick Home, CB Homes for Brightside

Packed with contemporary character, yet grounded in classic design, this project by CB Homes is a backland development on the owners’ garden plot. Specifying the right brick was crucial for planning, ensuring a home that would seamlessly blend in with the local architecture.

Photo: CB Homes

The couple specified Wienerberger’s hand-moulded Hathaway Brindle brick, with its heritage-inspired tones adding depth and texture to the facade. A coloured mortar with flush-handle pointing, and light stone lintels, help to soften the brickwork. Bat and house sparrow bricks were also included, to enhance the project’s sustainability and support biodiversity.

WINNER’S VIEW Nathan Booth, director at CB Homes Our client wanted the house to have a traditional look so it would blend in perfectly with the surrounding area, but they also wanted to make a modern style statement with large, anthracite casement windows to let loads of natural light in. Alongside the big windows, there are three sets of bifold doors running across the back of the house and an enormous window to the front which encompasses the full height of the staircase. The house cannot be seen from the road, so when you come up the driveway the overall effect of the glazing and the window casements against the soft brick is quite breathtaking.

Great Package Home Design on a Budget

Best Self Build Under £300k, Scandinavian Homes for Family Log Home

Designed by the homeowners in collaboration with Scandinavian Homes, this 1.5-storey, chalet-style home offers 186m² of living space. This includes three well-proportioned bedrooms and a stunning full-height living area, complete with a glazed gable and galleried landing.

Photo: Scandinavian Homes

Working with a tight budget, the family opted for a shell build project using Scandinavian Homes’ log kit. With the house wind and watertight, the owners took on the majority of the internal fit-out themselves.

WINNER’S VIEW David Gittins, managing director at Scandinavian Homes In spite of this being a package home, last minute changes are of course still possible. The homeowners were involved in every aspect of this project from start to finish, and once they’d built all the internal walls, they realised that the downstairs WC opened into the main living area. Although they really wanted an open-plan interior, they decided to be creative and constructed an internal vertical slatted wall feature to provide a little extra privacy (pictured above).

Fantastic Open-Plan Interiors

Best Turnkey Home, Dan-Wood for Harry Van Gorkum’s Home

When actor Harry Van Gorkum moved back to Britain after 28 years of living in the US, he knew that he wanted to build his own home in Norfolk – scene of many happy childhood holidays on the Broads. Along with his two daughters, Harry found the perfect site; a farmer’s field that had been split into six serviced plots.

Photo: Harry Van Gorkum

As luck would have it, a Dan-Wood house was being built next door. Harry was so impressed, he engaged the company for his own project – his first self build. Among the attractions of Dan-Wood’s approach was the transparent pricing (guaranteed for a year); speed of construction; build quality and energy efficiency; and the ability to tailor and upgrade its house models.

The design is based on Dan-Wood’s 1.5-storey, three-bed Point 150E house, which has an open-plan kitchen-dining-living zone.

HOMEOWNER’S VIEW Harry Van Gorkum, homeowner When I was looking to build my own home, I had no idea where to start. Dan-Wood’s agents guided me, a total novice, through the process – helping me create the home I have always wanted, to my taste and requirements. Handover was on the agreed date, almost exactly 12 weeks from delivery, and the finishes and quality of work are perfect.