By George Upton
For rural isolation
This three-bedroom converted barn on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon is set within five acres of land and is completely off grid thanks to a combination of solar panels, ground-source heating and high-end insulation. Despite being a historic building and featuring a large open-plan living space with a vaulted ceiling, the barn has an A EPC rating. As well as a workshop and a second barn there is also a studio adjacent to the main house that can be used as a home office or a guest house. The property is on the market for £1.15mn
For an open-plan lifestyle
Built in 2012, this four-bedroom Huf house in Hampshire is a combination of Bauhaus-inspired functional architecture and modern sustainable technologies — both hallmarks of the German manufacturer of prefabricated homes, Huf Haus, which designed and built the property. On the market for £1.9mn, the property features triple glazed windows, a ground source heat pump and comprehensive insulation. Open interiors and extensive glazing offer views over the water meadows of the River Arle to the front of the house, and the large garden to the rear. Whoever purchases the home will be eligible to join the Huf Owners’ Group.
For seaside views
Designed by Ström Architects — recipient of the RIBA South Award in 2022 — this four-bedroom home in Dorset was built with energy-efficiency in mind. The smart home-controlled heating system includes an air-to-water air source heat pump and is powered by solar panels and a 16.4kW battery. The house also benefits from being part of the Feed-in Tariff scheme, where energy suppliers pay for any surplus electricity that has been generated and fed back to the grid, and which has been closed to new applicants since 2019. Both the first floor open-plan living space and the roof terrace have expansive views over Poole harbour, and the house (centre left in picture below) features a 15 x 2-metre indoor swimming pool, gym and steam room. The property, which has an A EPC rating, is on the market for £2.95mn.
For a new-build barn
This EPC A-rated, four-bedroom home in Herefordshire was built by the current owners to be energy-efficient while fitting in with the traditional vernacular architecture of the area. Priced at £775,000, the barn-style building has high-quality insulation, an air source heat pump and solar panels on the roof of the garage adjacent to the main house. The ground floor — which features a 9m-long kitchen and dining room — has underfloor heating and there are exposed oak beams throughout the house.
For an award-winning home
Built on the site of a derelict garage, this two-bedroom three-storey house (also main picture, top) in Finsbury Park won architects GPAD the Best London Home at the 2018 Evening Standard New Homes awards for the creative use of its limited plot. The kitchen and dining room open through bi-folding doors on to a private patio, and the master bedroom has windows facing both east and west, as well as a walk-in wardrobe. The high levels of natural light afforded to the house contribute to its eco-friendly credentials, which also include solar panels, high-performance window glazing and insulation and low-energy lighting. The property has an EPC rating of B and is on the market for £1.25mn.
Photography: Knight Frank; Tim Crocker/Savills
