A Camden architect's incredible house in Dorset was announced on Grand Designs as the winner of a national award.
The Red House, by David Kohn Architects, in Camden High Street scooped the prize for House Of The Year 2022.
The newbuild family home was given the annual award by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) during the final episode of four-part series Grand Designs House Of The Year on Channel 4.
The award, established in 2013, is presented to the best new architect-designed house or extension in the UK.
Director David Kohn said: "This is a validation of the ambition and unerring support of our clients and the dedication of the whole project team."
He added: “The jury have chosen to support architecture that is intimate, playful, colourful and engages both with its context and history. I could not be more delighted.”
David has previously won young architect of the year in 2009 from Building Design magazine and Inside World Interior of the Year in 2013.
Red House beat Mediterranean-style Seabreeze in East Sussex, converted farm barn The Dutch Barn in West Sussex, and industrial aesthetic Surbiton Springs in Surbiton.
RIBA said the Red House takes inspiration from famous architect couple Alison and Peter Smithson, associated with 20th Century New Brutalism, and the 19th Century Arts And Crafts Movement.
Architect Philip Webb also designed a home called the Red House in London for designer William Morris, who were both part of the 1800s art trend.
Chair of Riba’s jury, architect Taro Tsuruta, said the Dorset house – which has oversized eaves, patterned red brickwork and bold green details – was “the most debated” which deserves “praise”.
A curved staircase is a central feature of the house which gives a "sculpture-like effect".
Tsuruta, who received a RIBA award in 2021, said the home is an “aesthetic and sustainable building with future-proof functionality”.
He said there are influences from top architects with “many surprises throughout”.
The Red House’s anonymous owner said: “It is hard as novices to design a new house in a sensitive rural location, but if we’d built an invisible house or a pastiche design it would have been a cop-out.
“We love the house and its happy eccentricity.”
Previous winners of the House Of The Year include McGonigle McGrath for House Lessans in 2019 and HaysomWardMiller for Lochside House in 2018.
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