Delving into the reward-winning abode, constructed in London, modeled after California's architectural grandeur, now open for exploration.
Award-Winning Modern Dream Home Transforms a 1970s Single-Story Property
Ruth Somerfield's contemporary dream home in south London has been crowned the Homebuilding & Renovating Awards 2024 Home of the Year. The property, located in a conservation area, was once a 1970s single-story detached home that underwent a remarkable transformation into an energy-efficient, green extension.
Ruth, a homeowner with a keen eye for design, purchased the property after lockdown to accommodate her family and pets. She found the right builders for the project, Modernarc, who specialise in bespoke, smaller projects. Architect Laurence Quinn proposed a fully glazed scheme that raised the roof height, creating a new, dynamic relationship with the gardens.
The original house, designed with a second floor in mind, remained a single-story building. However, it had poor ventilation, insulation, and heating, making it bitterly cold and prone to condensation. To address these issues, the architects incorporated high-performance insulation for the walls and roof to improve the thermal performance of the building.
The renovated house features an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living space on the ground floor, with polished concrete flooring throughout and terrazzo tiling in the downstairs bathroom. The interior design maintains a sleek, modern aesthetic while emphasising functionality. The house is heated purely using underfloor heating, which is energy efficient and maintains the simplicity of the space.
The team devised a new layout for the home, eliminating the 1-metre-deep built-in storage void above the ground-floor ceilings. The windows in the renovated home are from Maxlight and Lightfoot, and sliding glass doors have improved the connection with the garden, blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor living.
The judges of the Homebuilding & Renovating Awards 2024 described Ruth's home as an "architectural triumph" and the "standout home." The project was a testament to Ruth's meticulous project management, with a strict budget and meticulous timings. The house, surrounded by large period townhouses, has a unique aesthetic that Ruth wanted to build on, resulting in a truly remarkable transformation.
With the 2025 awards entries set to open in the spring, it's clear that Ruth's contemporary dream home has set the bar high for future award-winning home renovations.
- Ruth Somerfield's award-winning modern home, built by Modernarc, showcases Design creativity in south London.
- Initiated during lockdown, the project aimed to accommodate Ruth's family and pets with a renewed energy-efficient single-story design.
- Architect Laurence Quinn proposed a scheme in which the raised roof height would foster a dynamic relationship with the gardens.
- The original structure had poor insulation, ventilation, and heating, creating cold conditions and condensation.
- To rectify these deficiencies, high-performance insulation was incorporated in the walls and roof for improved thermal efficiency.
- The open-plan kitchen, dining, and living space on the ground floor boasts polished concrete flooring and terrazzo tiling in the bathroom.
- Sleek interior Design maintains modern aesthetics while prioritizing functionality, with energy-efficient underfloor heating throughout.
- Maxlight and Lightfoot provided windows for the renovated home, ensuring a better connection with the garden and promoting indoor-outdoor living.
- Sliding glass doors and an innovative layout from the team have contributed to the home's contemporary design.
- Ruth's meticulous project Management, adhering to a strict budget and timelines, earned her home the accolade of Homebuilding & Renovating Awards 2024 Home of the Year.
- The unique aesthetic of the home, juxtaposed against large period townhouses, exemplifies Ruth's vision for a truly transformative renovation.
- With the 2025 awards entries opening in the spring, other home enthusiasts can seek inspiration from this award-winning modern home renovation for their home improvement Projects and lifestyle within the home-and-garden community.
