Plot 154 is a three-storey, three-bedroom self-build home that was designed by A’Bear & Ball Architects LLP. It provides a strong contemporary architectural statement to Graven Hill in Bicester, Oxfordshire, which is the largest custom and self-build community in the UK.
The home was constructed from timber panels supported by steel beams. Using a timber frame brought a number of benefits to this self-build project. The building is thermally efficient, and the materials used for the frame were sustainably sourced. It was also very quick to erect, and there was less risk from a self-build point of view in terms of fixed cost and time constraints.
The building’s form has incorporated large cantilevered overhangs and balconies, showcasing a unique architectural language and style. This unique home has been completely tailored to the lifestyle of the owner, who wanted to create ‘The Ultimate Bachelor Pad'. By following low-energy and Lifetime Home design principles and immense investment in Home Automation, it’s a property fit for the future and will be the self-builder’s ‘forever home’.
Recently, Plot 154 in Graven Hill was featured on Grand Designs: The Streets. Presenter Kevin McCloud described the project as ‘resplendent’ and ‘finely tailored’ with a ‘slight swagger’. It has also been shortlisted as the Custom & Self Build Project of the Year at the 2022 Structural Timber Awards, in addition to the Best Eco Home and Best Timber Frame Home at the 2022 Build It Awards.