The grade-two listed property was sensitively redesigned to incorporate the ruins (Picture: Channel 4)
Grand Designs viewers were unimpressed with the Royal Institute of British Architects’ choices for the House of the Year shortlist on Wednesday night after ‘clear winner’ the Parchment House didn’t make the cut.
In a series of special episodes visiting houses that have been shortlisted for the prestigious RIBA award – and thus devoid of the usual stress, panic and financial woes – presenter Kevin McCloud and co got to look solely at some of the most impressive ‘afters’ of this year.
The night’s category focused on renovations and buildings that had been updated and transformed to bring them to the height of sophistication.
There was the Dutch Barn sitting in its eight-acre public garden, the Cow Shed magically transformed into a glorious library and the Victorian two flats pushed together by way of a ‘futuristic zinc cube’.
However, it was the Parchment House that stole people’s hearts as owner Charlie and Jane proudly showed off their unique grade two-listed home in a print works, that had been sensitively extended through into the ruins of two separate buildings.
The clever ‘building with a building’ design by their architect son Will made use of glass walls and the remaining ruins to shape the extension of the house, taking in brick walls that had previously been ‘garroted with ivy’.
The building ruins were previously ‘garroted’ by ivy (Picture: Channel 4)
The owners’ son, an architect, took great pains to preserve as much as possible (Picture: Channel 4)
Will’s attention to detail and preservation was admirable as he encouraged his parents to keep rusty nails in place in the walls, as well as lime paint splashed across another.
The renovation works had been overseen by an archaeologist on the off-chance they unearthed something of value – which they did, in the shape of an ancient stone bath.
The judges praised the Parchment House’s use of old and new materials and how they ‘had been introduced to each other and encouraged to be friends’.
The judges praised how old and new materials worked together (Picture: Channel 4)
That same blend could be seen inside too (Picture: Channel 4)
Many viewers very very taken by the house (Picture: Channel 4)
Stunning views were part of the package, but it wasn’t to be (Picture: Channel 4)
‘Parchment House is the one, that’s the winner, what an absolute triumph,’ declared one fan, while another added on Twitter: ‘A sensitive intervention resulting in a beautiful home. A real winner in my opinion.’
A third fan agreed, writing: ‘Clear winner – the definition of thinking outside the box.’
Alas, it was not to be, with both the Dutch Barn and Mews House instead progressing through to the next round of House of the Year.
disgusted this was not shortlisted. Nothing more to say.
— Darryl Hasieber (@Dazz72) November 23, 2022
‘Cannot believe the Parchment Factory [sic] wasn’t picked. It was utterly amazing,’ shared one stunned fan, while another grumbled: ‘Wrong again.’
One viewer pleaded: ‘It was robbed!! @granddesigns come on.’
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‘Disgusted this was not shortlisted. Nothing more to say,’ fumed one incensed viewer.
The judges of the House of the Year award praised its shortlisted picks of the Dutch Barn for its ‘quite unique’ blend of a private building being in the middle of public open garden, while the Mews House’s sustainability credentials and generous wood staircase impressed.
Grand Designs continues on Wednesday at 9pm on Channel 4.
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