For these embarking on the housebuilding course of, pragmatism is regarded as among the many most dear qualities – and so it proved with one specific challenge in East Devon.
Having grown up within the county, Louise Williams had been trying to construct a home there for about 10 years, so when she got here throughout a Nineteen Twenties indifferent property on the outskirts of a reasonably coastal city – although she thought the present home unviable – the big backyard and distinctive views advised her this was someplace she might create a house tailor-made to her personal wants and life-style.
The beautiful outcome gained the Finest Self-Construct class within the Homebuilding & Renovating Awards 2025, in partnership with The Occasions and The Sunday Occasions. The judges described it as a “home that creates a way of heat by means of the rigorously chosen supplies that envelop this easy, conventional, but up to date type.”
Mission particulars
- Location East Devon
- Mission Self-build indifferent
- Dimension of home 103sq m
- Construct time 11 months
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Early planning
When she met with architectural designer Vaughn Allington of New Area Structure, Louise had already fashioned concepts of the kind of home she had in thoughts to exchange the present one – particularly a two-storey, three-bedroom dwelling they collectively described as “Danish fashionable meets Devon longhouse”.
“Louise was additionally eager that the new-build design needs to be led by the topography relatively than doing intensive groundworks to satisfy the design,” says Vaughn. “She was additionally eager to reuse what supplies we might from the unique home.”
After a number of idea conferences between shopper and designer, with Louise very concerned within the design course of, planning was submitted and granted in August 2020. Following the completion of a technical design, an area contractor was chosen and works duly started, beginning with the demolition of the present home.
At that time, Louise concluded that she must halt the construct. “As a result of rising supplies costs attributable to Covid, it had develop into clear the construct value for the unique design had develop into unfeasible as soon as the builders’ detailed figures got here in,” she says.
“Circumstances had additionally modified throughout Covid and I not wanted three bedrooms and a separate workplace. As a substitute of us compromising on the design, Vaughn and I agreed the perfect plan of action can be to design one thing solely completely different, easier and smaller.”
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Materials modifications
In addition to making better monetary sense, the redesign provided different sensible advantages.
“The home that was demolished had been constructed very near the older cottages on the perimeter of the unique plot and was virtually twice their top, overshadowing them,” says Louise.
“The brand new smaller design adopted the roofline of the neighbouring cottages and was stepped again away into the plot, so not seen when wanting up the highway. This additionally allowed the home greater entrance and facet gardens.”
“After the demolition, it turned clear that the variety of terracotta roof tiles we’d salvaged wasn’t sufficient to cowl the roof of the proposed new dwelling, so Louise opted for a Corten metal roof as a substitute,” says Vaughn.
The actual fact that there have been various corrugated iron roofed agricultural buildings within the space meant there was no drawback with planning permission. Delabole slate was chosen for the higher floor and first ground exterior partitions as Louise had lengthy admired them at any time when she had seen them as hung tiles in Devon and Cornwall.
“We purchased them unseen from a close-by reclamation yard and, fortunately, they had been in excellent situation,” she says. In the meantime, a mixture of chert stone and clay brick add a brand new and barely up to date dimension to the look of the home.
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Logistical issues
Whereas stuffed with reward for the expertise and effectivity of the contractors, CW Construct, Louise says there have been nonetheless unsure moments within the challenge, and certainly one of these was through the laying of the polished concrete ground.
“Vaughn, CW Construct and I made up the combo based mostly on what we thought would possibly look lighter and extra terrazzo-like in color and texture – actual terrazzo was method out of my finances – and it was poured on spec,” she says. “It was poured excessive of the underfloor heating so there was no room for error however, fortunately, it turned out very well.”
The construct itself wasn’t with out its logistical issues. The location is on a pointy bend on a slim, single-lane highway on the finish of a row of homes. The turning and manoeuvring of supply autos was tough and precluded the usage of an off-site timber body for the primary ground, which is why it was stick constructed on web site as a substitute.
The construct and plant took up many of the highway frontage as effectively, which means there was little area on web site for the storage of supplies.
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From the architect
Vaughn Allington says, “I met Louise in 2019 and he or she had fairly a robust view of what she wished. She was at all times eager to knock down the present construction and assemble a brand new dwelling and was searching for fairly a traditional-style, three-bedroom, indifferent dwelling.
“She had various particular options that she wished to include – akin to a large, shallow-pitch staircase, polished concrete and wide-plank oak flooring, a rendered exterior end, however with a softer ‘lime’ render end achieved by not utilizing metallic beads, a spacious entrance corridor, a compact kitchen and linear residing lodging. Louise was additionally eager that the new-build design was led by the topography relatively than doing intensive groundworks to satisfy the design.
“The location was nestled contained in the bend within the highway on a hillside and, as such, posed various challenges – not just for the design, but additionally the construct. The ensuing type is that of a split-level floor ground permitting for a vaulted residing area and partial first ground.
“This challenge is proof {that a} home doesn’t have to be all about sq. ft – the choice of supplies, planning of areas and care within the construct have all contributed to creating an actual dwelling.”
Last ideas
“Whereas compact when it comes to ground space, the tall ceiling within the residing space offers an actual sense of area,” says Vaughn. “One other function I attempt to introduce with my designs is that of having the ability to look out of home windows in all 4 instructions sooner or later within the dwelling.
“With this home, I notably love the framed panorama view to the west. Though I’m biased, it felt like a house as quickly because it was constructed, and whereas it’s extra compact than initially deliberate, it nonetheless meets the unique temporary of ‘Danish fashionable meets Devon longhouse’.”
Louise concurs: “It’s testomony to the competence of the designer and builders that there was by no means a second after I didn’t really feel assured on this challenge. It’s exceeded all of my expectations.”
In the event you loved touring this property, take a look at this vivid and ethereal oak-frame self-build or this riverside eco dwelling constructed with native supplies.
