A property once described as the ‘dream home’ on television series Grand Designs has been sold for £1.2 million.
An 11-year labour of love for couple Richard and Pru Irvine, the custom-built Hope House in Pathhead, Midlothian, boasts floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
The couple’s progress was charted by a crew from the Channel 4 programme and presenter Kevin McCloud later described it as his dream home.
The breathtaking ‘Hope House’ in Pathhead, Midlothian, is set against 18th century limekilns and its floor to ceiling windows offer panoramic views of the surrounding countryside
The glass fronted five bedroom property has two kitchens, an indoor garden, a TV room, a large drawing room, cloakroom and a boot room
The garden consists of a large barn, a swimming pond, a patio with pizza oven in the kilns, a wild flower meadow, an orchard and a large fruit and vegetable garden
The couple’s progress was charted by a crew from the Channel 4 programme and presenter Kevin McCloud (pictured) described it as his dream home
The glass fronted five bedroom property also has two kitchens, an indoor garden, a TV room, a large drawing room, cloakroom and a boot room.
The garden consists of a large barn, a swimming pond, a patio with pizza oven in the kilns, a wild flower meadow, an orchard and a large fruit and vegetable garden.
The home has also received awards from the Saltire Society and Edinburgh Architectural Association.
Last year, when asked to pick his personal highlights from Grand Designs, McCloud singled out Hope House.
He said: ‘Richard and Pru wanted a modern building, but it had to fit in with its surroundings.
‘So the house had a hat made out of wooden shingles, rather like a lid, but still achieved the purist white crystalline thing. I liked that, and the way it nodded to the vernacular. It was a resounding happy medium.’
After viewing the completed building, the presenter said: ‘It’s a great building and to be honest, this is what I’d want. I don’t say I want many things in life, but this I want.’
The bright and airy home has also received awards from the Saltire Society and Edinburgh Architectural Association
The modern building makes use of green technologies and built using sustainable and locally supplied materials
The Irvines bought the site, which housed two lime kilns and several derelict buildings, in December 2003 and the house project took four years to complete
The bill for the roof came in at £25,000 alone – while a wall of windows set the couple back £40,000
Mrs Irvine previously told how they were selling up as they are planning to move to the Isle of Colonsay.
She said: ‘We will be very sad to leave. The house is beautiful, it has an incredibly calm and lovely feel to it, and we have loved living here.
‘The building project was wonderful and it was a fantastic experience to be part of. Kevin McCloud really loved the house and has always said very nice things about it.
‘I think the house would suit anybody who wants to live in a very tranquil and open environment.’
The home went on the market last August with offers exceeding £925,000 but has now sold for well over its asking price after being snapped up a couple from East Lothian for £1.2 million
Mrs Irvine said she and her husband were selling up as they are planning to move to the Isle of Colonsay
The modern building makes use of green technologies and built using sustainable and locally supplied materials.
The Irvines bought the site, which housed two lime kilns and several derelict buildings, in December 2003 and the house project took four years to complete.
It took 20 months to get planning permission despite there being no objections, and 16 letters of support.
Then building work was delayed by five months to November 2006 as soil tests were carried out to ensure the former industrial site wasn’t contaminated.
The bill for the roof came in at £25,000 alone – while a wall of windows set them back £40,000.
It went on the market last August with offers exceeding £925,000 but has now sold for well over its asking price after being snapped up a couple from East Lothian for £1.2 million.