Contemporary eco friendly self-build, Glasgow
Best Eco Home
Don and Lorna have built a contemporary style eco home in suburban Glasgow that is an impressive mix of modern design and sustainable construction principles. The couple bought a run-down timber frame bungalow with a view to replacing it with something more suited to the elevated site, which enjoys views of the city to the south and hills to the north. The result is a fine example of how site constraints can bring out the best in house design. Don and Lorna decided on an upside-down approach to their living accommodation to make the most of the views and built a semi-basement garage to maximise the site’s potential. The house is built from Insulated Concrete Formwork resulting in impressive energy-efficiency (U-values of just 0.19) and includes an air-source heat pump. As a result their bills are almost half of what they were in their old home, despite the new home being 30% bigger. It cost £333,000 (£1,486/m²) to build and took 11 months.
Tweets On This Property
"The perfect mix of modern design and build efficiency. Don’s design is made all the more remarkable by its suburban setting, but the real beauty is in its startling performance and minimal energy bills."
Jason Orme, Editor of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine
"The owners set out to create a low maintenance, energy efficient family home on a relatively modest budget and the flat roofed upside down house, built using permanent insulated formwork construction has achieved just that."
Michael Holmes, Editor-in-Chief of Homebuilding & Renovating, Period Living and Real Homes magazines
"Very interesting and successful take on contemporary family home. Upstairs particularly great. Heated by air source heat pump."
Peter Harris, Managing Director of Centaur Special Interest Media
"Their timing couldn’t have been worse – bought at the peak, tried to finance it during the crunch. Well done for finishing and great view."
Angela Pertusini, former Editor of The Daily Telegraph’s award-winning Property section
These are the judges' opinions - tell us your thoughts in our discussion forum


Centaur Special Interest Media, Ascent Publishing Ltd, 2 Sugar Brook Court, Aston Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B60 3EX. Tel: 01527 834400
Post new comment