"A 1970s bungalow was torn down for the construction of a contemporary residence, boasting eco-friendly characteristics. Check out this breathtaking transformation."
Building a Contemporary Minimalist Bungalow: The Surtees Family's Journey
In a South Yorkshire town, Stephen and Helen Surtees embarked on a three-year journey to create their ideal home from scratch. Replacing a dated 1970s two-bedroom bungalow, their vision was to build a modern, energy-efficient dwelling that exuded a minimalist feel, inspired by Mies van der Rohe's Barcelona Pavilion.
To bring their dream to life, the Surtees hired local architect Andy Thomas from Thread Architects. Thomas presented three maquette models, and the chosen design seamlessly integrated simplicity, functionality, and clean aesthetics. The house's exterior is finished in locally sourced ashlar Hampole fine limestone, robust buff brickwork, and natural slate, creating a bold and expressive entrance and front garden.
The sunken patio leads off the main living area, with stepping stones across an outdoor pool leading to the garden room. The rear of the house opens up into a series of contemporary internal and external living spaces that link to each other, including the open-plan kitchen, dining, and snug area. The kitchen links externally to an upper terrace with a barbecue outdoor kitchen.
The house's interior boasts a split-level space, large sliding doors, and floor-to-ceiling glazing, maximizing natural light and promoting a seamless indoor-outdoor transition. The main bedroom features a dressing area, while one of the bedrooms doubles up as a home office.
The Surtees' focus on sustainability is evident in the house's energy-efficient design. The log burner remains unused, and radiators are rarely needed upstairs. The home automation features, such as electric blinds, an eco heating system, and automatic motion sensor lighting, further contribute to the house's eco-friendliness.
The only significant issues during the build were caused by material shortages towards the end. To deal with such challenges, the Surtees employed strategies such as using prefabricated timber frame construction, choosing locally sourced materials, and planning the timeline with flexibility.
In summary, the Surtees' contemporary minimalist bungalow thrives on open-plan layouts, simple yet elegant design, and sustainable construction approaches. By hiring the right architect with expertise in these areas and employing strategies to address material shortages, they were able to create a home that is both stylish and eco-friendly. Embrace natural light, neutral colors, and clever storage to maintain a minimalist feel throughout the home.
- The Surtees family's contemporary minimalist bungalow is built from locally sourced ashlar Hampole fine limestone, robust buff brickwork, and natural slate, which guide the design of a bold and expressive entrance and front garden.
- With the help of local architect Andy Thomas from Thread Architects, the house's design seamlessly integrates simplicity, functionality, and clean aesthetics, appropriate for a home inspired by Mies van der Rohe's Barcelona Pavilion.
- The Surtees' project required a three-year journey to create their ideal home from scratch, replacing a dated 1970s two-bedroom bungalow with a modern, energy-efficient dwelling.
- The house's interior boasts a split-level space, large sliding doors, and floor-to-ceiling glazing, functioning to maximize natural light and promote a seamless indoor-outdoor transition.
- The sunken patio leads off the main living area, with stepping stones across an outdoor pool leading to the garden room, benefiting from the contemporary internal and external living spaces.
- The Surtees' focus on sustainability is evident in various aspects of the house's design, such as minimal heating requirements, the log burner remaining unused, and eco-friendly home automation features like electric blinds and motion sensor lighting.
- The main bedroom features a dressing area, while one of the bedrooms doubles up as a home office, providing additional functionality and flexibility within the house's design.
- Employing strategies such as using prefabricated timber frame construction, choosing locally sourced materials, and planning the timeline with flexibility helped the Surtees address material shortages during the build.
- The rear of the house opens up into a series of contemporary living spaces, including the open-plan kitchen, dining, and snug area, which links externally to an upper terrace with a barbecue outdoor kitchen, catering to various home-and-garden and home-improvement lifestyles.
- To bring their dream to life, Stephen and Helen Surtees collaborated with architect Andy Thomas, whose design exemplifies the fashionable home-improvement ideal of sustainable living.
- The Surtees family's contemporary minimalist bungalow showcases clever storage solutions, neutral colors, and an emphasis on natural light to maintain a minimalist feel throughout the home, in line with the intentional lifestyle and home-improvement trends of the home-and-garden world.
