RIBA (the Royal Institute of British Architects) has unveiled its annual pick of the best new homes in the UK. Highlights include an agricultural shed turned into an impressively sustainable residence and an unusual circular house built on a plot previously used for the illegal dumping of waste.
As was the case last year, most of the 20 homes that feature in the RIBA House of the Year 2018 longlist are located in the south of England, though there are a few further north, as well as a single Scottish entry and another in Northern Ireland (Wales, as usual, didn't field an entry).
The 20 homes will be whittled down to a shortlist in the coming months and an overall winner will eventually be declared later this year.
Old Shed New House involved the transformation of an agricultural shed in Yorkshire. Architects Tonkin Liu added a comfortable interior containing a residence, library, and an art gallery. It's also very energy efficient and has large amounts of insulation installed, as well as high levels of air tightness, mechanical ventilation and heat recovery systems – all of which means that it'll require very little energy to heat and cool.
Neighbors of a cramped plot in London used for the illegal dumping of waste suggested to architects Chance de Silva that it could be turned into a private house. The firm obliged and collaborated with sound artist Scanner to produce Vex, a compact curving home inspired by the piece of music Vexations by French avant-garde composer Erik Satie.
Moving out into the countryside, the single entry from Scotland on the House of the Year longlist is Lochside House. Already having the RIBA Award for Scotland 2018 under its belt, the sustainable design from HaysomWardMiller Architects caught the eye of the judges for its success in blending into the harsh beauty of the surrounding landscape.
Head to the gallery to see each of the 20 homes featured in the RIBA House of the Year 2018 longlist, including the renovation of a house built in 1510 that was in a near-state of collapse, the transformation of a Gin Distillery into a family home, and several new high-end contemporary residences.
Source: RIBA
