Saintfield home with ‘sophisticated elegance’ scoops House of the Year award

Saintfield home with ‘sophisticated elegance’ scoops House of the Year award

20 November 2019

IT may have divided public opinion but a rural Saintfield home has been named the RIBA House of the Year.

The news was announced last Wednesday by presenter Kevin McCloud on Channel 4’s Grand Designs: House Of The Year programme.

Owned by local couple Michael and Sylvia, the three-bedroomed detached house won the coveted title due to the “sophisticated elegance” of its simple design.

The award for the UK’s best new architect-designed house is presented by The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

However, some fans of the show believed that the house was not a worthy winner and took to social media afterwards to view their opinions.

Known as House Lessans, the L-shaped house cost £335,000 to build over 235 square metres on the site of a former homestead. 

It features a simple and stark grey and white interior which matches the grey roof and white walls of the exterior.

It was designed by Kieran McGonigle and Aidan McGrath, of the Belfast architects’ firm McGonigle McGrath and built by Saintfield firm Hans Crosby Ltd.

A spokesman for Hans Crosby Ltd said: “Hans Crosby Ltd are delighted to have been appointed as the main contractor for the House Lessans project.

“On receipt of the original design concepts we knew that this was a unique house with modern design and high quality finish, however on a realistic budget.

“We would like to pass on our thanks to our excellent team of staff and sub-contractors who have all helped to bring this project to fruition.

Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud described what he thought the houses appeal was on Wednesday’s final programme.

He said: “It’s a seemingly humble arrangement of two simple joined buildings but joined beautifully and with great care.”

One of the buildings houses a kitchen and dining area and living room with an mezzanine office. The other block has a long corridor leading to three bedrooms and the two buildings are linked with a shared outside corridor.

Owner Sylvia said: “Like most non-architects about to build a home, we had a clear idea about what we’d like in terms of rooms but no idea about how these rooms might be arranged or what the house might look like. 

We feel that the house respects and indeed enhances the landscape. It’s a joy to live in —from seeing the soaring bedroom ceiling on wakening, being surrounded by the gentle landscape in the kitchen during the day, to enjoying the sunset in the top room.”

She said that she and her husband had complete faith in their architect Kieran McGonigle.

“As soon as we say his work online, we really like it so we never explored another architect and never went beyond Kieran.”

The architect said that he was stunned to hear that his design had won, having already claimed the RIBA Northern Ireland Award 2019 and RIBA National Award 2019.

Mr McGonigle said: “It’s a humbling experience. It’s been really unexpected but we are really thrilled.”

He believes that what impressed the judges so much was that he helped design a house of a high standard using inexpensive materials for the budget.

RIBA judge John Pardey explained that judging House Lessans as the winner was something of a ‘David v Goliath’ competition.

“This won for its modesty and through its sheer strength, its simplicity and sophisticated elegance, it got there,” he said. “I hope that the message is that you can do something very good for a small cost.”