Welcome to riverside living without any compromise. This one-off piece of contemporary architecture, now for sale through The Modern House, offers a life at one with the Thames, the trees and your own wildflower meadow. What could be your next island home is on stilts for minimum impact on its surroundings. Interiors, while lacking for nothing in creature comforts, have maximum connection with the outdoors.
Location is the car-free island of Wheatleys Eyot in Surrey and minimalist design, by BCDH Architects, means that first impression is of a discreet structure on black stilts, clad in sapele wood which will weather over time, becoming more and more at one with the surroundings. Simple, open plan living within is dominated by floor-to-ceiling windows extending to three metres in height, bringing the outdoors in. Underfloor heating guarantees warmth, aided by a wood-burning stove. Kitchen is a standalone island with composite worktops.
Dual aspect bedrooms occupy two corners of the main house, with a further ensuite bedroom in an annex with vistas all of its own. There's a studio space too. Best of all for water-lovers is the access to the Thames, with wild swimming easily available beyond the lawns and meadows. There's a fire pit for evenings under the stars. Yearning for the pub? Take the motor boat down the river. This really is a home to transform your life, which makes the price tag of £1.7m seem really quite reasonable.
These 'green buildings' showcase the possibilities of sustainable architecture.
