For half a century, RIBA have been handing out awards for the best architecture, not just in the UK, but around the globe. The prizes are awarded for architectural innovations, at the core of which lay a dedication “to improving and enhancing people’s lives”.
RIBA has yet to announce the long list for the 2016 national awards. This is because the regional awards are still in contention. The winners from the regional awards will be announced in June 2016 and will be considered for the national prizes later in the year.
Latest House of the Year
The RIBA House of the Year for 2015 was Flint House in Buckinghamshire. This featured in an episode of Channel 4’s Grand Designs and overcome stiff competition from Sussex House, Kew House, Vaulted House, The Mill and others.
The aptly-named Flint House is remarkable for its innovative of flint. This starts at the base of the house and slowly changes in form and structure until it gives way to chalk walls at the highest point of the house. This adds an air of different geological levels as the building appears to dissolve as it rises.
To achieve this end result, the architects teamed up with a number of specialist craftsmen to achieve the end result. The house is part of a wider artistic project which also engaged artists, musicians and photographers.
The cost of innovation
Innovative houses featured on Grand Designs usually command hefty price tags. Despite this, one of the most popular projects to feature on the show – the Longhouse in Kilcreggan, near Glasgow – went on the market for less than the £380,000 its owners spent on its build back in 2006.
Having overrun their budget by £150,000, the couple were in need of the cash from the sale in 2014. Whether or not they end up selling privately, at auction or turning to national home buying companies is yet to be seen, however, the latter could certainly be a viable option at this stage. Trusted home buyers Property Rescue for example, who could offer a much needed cash injection for the waning project, could also help save additional agency running costs, not to mention a lot of time and hassle.
The price tag of £375,000 is based on market value following years of property bubbles and crashes. Yet the trend in Scotland is for buyers to offer more than the initial asking price, rather than less. Considering just how sought after houses like this can be, it is very likely that the house sold for more than £375,000.
PICTURE © COPYRIGHT STUART WALLACE 2007.
This post has been written on Behalf of Property Rescue
