From a Cotswolds house with a wildflower sloping roof to a wonderful regeneration scheme of a historical site in Woolwich, there have been some truly incredible new build homes this year.
The very best new developments were awarded at the 36th WhatHouse? Awards bringing together a truly unique mix of properties, that has not only created new homes and living spaces, but boosted the economy, enriched the culture and created new communities, too.
Take a look at these truly spectacular properties and find out why the judges awarded them a gold accolade.
Plot 1 Habitat House, Lower Mill Estate, Somerford Keynes, Gloucestershire
• Habitat First Group
The judges said: 'Habitat House is part of a development of 10 (to date) contemporary detached four/five-bedroom holiday homes positioned informally lakeside within the unique rural surroundings of Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswolds, where a 550-acre nature reserve provides a 21st-century country retreat.
'These contemporary-style sustainable houses have been very cleverly designed by Featherstone Young Architects. All the homes are detached and arranged over three floors. Each house has its own garden deck surrounded by lawn and allowing plenty of private unenclosed space; upstairs balconies provide sweeping views over the lake and surrounding countryside. The elevations are simple and functional and the sleek, modern styling and the use of local natural materials, including a green wildflower roof, local Cotswold stone and Western red cedar cladding, allows the homes to blend seamlessly in with the rest of the development while maintaining their own distinctive character. Each house has its own air source heat pump.'
Royal Arsenal Riverside, Woolwich, London, SE18
• Berkeley Homes East Thames
The judges said: 'Sweeping along a kilometre of the Thames, Royal Arsenal Riverside has resuscitated a derelict area in a significant historical site. What is most impressive, however, is how the local economy has also enjoyed a revival. People have lived and worked on the site since the Iron Age, and for almost 300 years Royal Arsenal was a major employer and backbone of the local economy. This entrepreneurial spirit has been restored to Royal Arsenal Riverside. For a growing number of residents, the development isn't just their home – it's also their livelihood. Six resident-led independent businesses now exist on the site, and with a 16,500m² creative hub in the pipeline, many more are likely to follow.
'Derelict since 1980, the site is now home to a museum, a variety of eateries, a farmers' market and even an onsite brewery. A luxury spa is in the works. Berkeley hasn't just created homes; the development feels like an exclusive brand.'
Bath Riverside, Bath
• Crest Nicholson Regeneration
The judges said: 'Bath Riverside is an ambitious regeneration scheme on a 44-acre site bordering the River Avon that had lain derelict for over 25 years. When fully completed, it will comprise over 2,000 new homes along with much-needed community facilities including a new school, an energy centre, riverside parks, restaurants and a new public walkway abutting the river.
'The properties that make up Bath Riverside are varied, with apartment buildings, Georgian-inspired terraces and individual villas, all cleverly designed to be individual in character and yet complementary to one another. The inherent elegance and softness of touch that has been achieved owes much of its success to the simple, clean lines of the buildings and this is reinforced by the consistency in the building palette, with Bath Stone used across the development.'
Gabriel Square, St Albans
• Meyer Homes
The judges said: 'A stunning development. The developers have taken every care to consider the end user to the last detail and the result is a gloriously practical and well thought-out living space.
'It is a brave interior designer who can use the colour palette of emerald with élan, especially in a showhome, which has to appeal to a variety of potential buyers. The skillful designer from Conran and Partners has carefully used this fashion hit of the season throughout the home, combining current trends directly from the high street. The stamp of Conran and Partners can be seen through the design and unlike the interior designer who guards their secret list of suppliers, the look could probably be achieved simply by visiting the Conran store in West London. The modernist, clean living style complements the development perfectly.'
Dollar Bay, Canary Wharf, London, E14
• Mount Anvil
The judges said: 'The adage "location, location, location" is admittedly a factor at Dollar Bay, but it is what Mount Anvil and its architects have done with the development that merits its Gold accolade. The crystal-like form of the Dollar Bay 31-storey tower rises like a beacon at the foot of the South Dock in Canary Wharf. The Docklands development, a monument to unrestrained capitalism, scarcely controlled by planning restrictions, might trouble the politically correct, but countless architectural awards over the years suggest that some loosening of the planners' grip might be advantageous. And Dollar Bay is no exception. With its sculpted form, by architects SimpsonHaugh, it is a notable addition to the public realm, which it further enhances by creating more public space with seating and a cafe in addition to its outdoor garden areas.
'Within the tower, which contains 125 bright and spacious open plan homes with unhindered views, more transitional space is provided by winter gardens, naturally ventilated by glass Louvres. Oriented to the west and east, and narrowed to the north and south to reduce temperature differentials, further climate control is provided by a unique dock water comfort cooling solution.'
- Mount Anvil's Dollar Bay also won joint Gold for Best Interior Design
Grange Hall, Stoke Newington, London, N16
• Cubitt Greystock
The judges said: 'Built in 1837, this former school later served as a church hall, a social hall, a snooker house and a warehouse for electrical fittings, before being converted by Cubitt Greystock into nine houses.
'The conversion carefully combines contemporary design, building technology, new and traditional styling and materials to create impeccably thought out, practical and individual homes that are peppered with original features. In the conversion, stone detailing within the facade was carefully repaired and the form of the original dormer windows was maintained but reinterpreted using a modern, high-performance system.'
One Tower Bridge, London, SE1
• Berkeley Homes
The judges said: 'Located next to Tower Bridge and opposite the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Tower of London, One Tower Bridge is a residential-led mixed use development. While some developments claim their mixed use credentials through the merit of including a ground-floor convenience store, few can boast the well-conceived and integrated uses at One Tower Bridge.
'The impressive 900-seat theatre will add a cultural activity that works well with the already established restaurant offer and the boutique five-star LaLit hotel located within the listed former site of St Olave's Grammar School. The Ivy restaurant will soon be joined by The Coal Shed, a Brighton-based steak restaurant, Rosa's Thai Café, and Gunpowder, serving "home-style" Indian dishes, as well as other offers that are new to the UK.'
Bewdley, Alderley Edge, Cheshire
• Huntsmere
The judges said: 'Bewdley is a home with plenty of personality. Entertaining takes centre stage from the moment you enter the gated driveway that winds up through parkland landscaping to the house, where the entrance hall has an 11m high ceiling adorned by a handcrafted light feature completed in situ by the designer.
'Set over seven split levels with glimpses through to neighbouring floors adding to the cohesiveness of the design, Bewdley spans 11,000ft² and not one of them is wasted. The lower ground floor 'party room' has a 105" curved TV, a professionally equipped bar and a full DJ deck while the indoor pool has a depth of 2.4m and multi-folding doors onto the garden.'
Camp End Manor, St George's Hill, Weybridge, Surrey
• Werner Capital
The judges said: 'Camp End Manor captures the essence of Regency elegance on the highest plot on St George's Hill. Standing in 1.4 acres with views that stretch for miles, this substantial home of 15,000ft² revels in its setting and maximises views in every direction from the core of the property. Here, an elliptical floating staircase, finished in French limestone and attached only at floor and ceiling levels, swirls up to the first floor and down to the basement leisure suite. Exclusively designed and engineered for Camp End Manor, it was constructed on a supporting brick structure, which was subsequently removed, resulting in an engineering wonder that is aesthetically stunning.
'Alternatively, the eight-person lift with limestone floor can whisk guests down to the lower ground floor, which features a well-equipped bar, gym and a cinema room, along with a 12m pool with an oculus roof window for natural light, Hamman spa, sauna and changing rooms. There are also two staff suites.'
Blake Tower, Barbican, London, EC2Y
• Redrow
The judges said: 'Stylish and practical meets truly urban at Blake Tower in the City of London, where Redrow and the Conran Design Group have transformed a former brutalist YMCA block at the Barbican into uber-cool apartments.
'The retention of original concrete walls in the Grade II listed building alongside 21st-century versions of the Barbican signature features of brass ironmongery, integrated wooden seating and alcove shelves above beds adds character to what could have been a predictable scheme. Even though the setting's a bit Marmite – you either love or hate the Barbican – the judges were impressed by Harper Downie's consistency of architectural thinking, providing roomy spaces, excellent finishes, ample storage and plenty of balconies with views of Smithfield Market, St Paul's and the Barbican Estate gardens.'
Elephant Park, Elephant & Castle, London, SE17
•Lendlease
The judges said: 'The urban regeneration project being undertaken by Lendlease at Elephant Park is delivering 2,500 homes, 11 acres of new community space, plus energy-efficient living in central London. The homes are built to a minimum level 4 of the former Code for Sustainable Homes; 15 of them are level 5 and Passivhaus certified. Elephant Park is the only UK project participating in the C40 Cities Climate Positive Development Program, an initiative shaping the future of sustainable living.
'Residents have access to electric car charging ports, bike storage and gardens for producing homegrown produce. Homes are connected to an energy hub providing net-zero carbon heat and hot water. Green roofs and PVs top the buildings while cross laminated timber, much of it fabricated offsite, is being used in construction.'
Riverlight, Battersea, London, SW11
•St James
The judges said: 'Riverlight, designed by architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, brings the successful concept and aesthetic of Neo Bankside to Nine Elms in Battersea. This large housing scheme has been broken down into a series of six pavilions, orientated south to north to allow light and views across the site, while reducing the mass of the building viewed from the river. The height of the pavilions steps down across the site, creating a transition from the scale of Battersea Power Station developments to one side, and housing to the other.
'The individual buildings are articulated with structure and services exposed on the exterior. This gives the buildings a delicacy and complexity that further reduces the appearance of mass, and allows the buildings to sit harmoniously in their context in this sensitive location near the river and the power station. This strategy also allows for clean, open interior layouts unobstructed by structure, while panoramic external lifts give residents a dramatic vista of the river.'
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