Renovating
Architecture: Single-storey Dwellings With Star Quality
On the level… single-storey houses have had a makeover, with bungalows blossoming into beautiful, cleverly designed homes with real appeal
In the past, think of a single-storey home and you would probably picture the humble bungalow. Today, though, things have changed. Imaginative design and envelope-pushing architecture is creating elegant, attractive and downright original homes arranged across one level. From conversions of characterful old buildings to the very latest in modernist architecture, single-storey homes provide flowing space and a sense of connectivity that you just don’t find in a two-up, two-down.
Celebrate sleek simplicity
More Bond than bungalow, this stunning single-storey home sits discreetly in the coastal landscape, its living roof helping it to blend in. Glass all round pulls in maximum natural light and makes the most of the wonderful views.
More Bond than bungalow, this stunning single-storey home sits discreetly in the coastal landscape, its living roof helping it to blend in. Glass all round pulls in maximum natural light and makes the most of the wonderful views.
Go for a cool conversion
Converting buildings not originally designed for human habitation creates characterful single-storey dwellings. Here, a former stables, with many of the original features retained or adapted, makes an attractive rural home.
Converting buildings not originally designed for human habitation creates characterful single-storey dwellings. Here, a former stables, with many of the original features retained or adapted, makes an attractive rural home.
Be part of the landscape
This Hobbit hole house is dug into the hillside and laid with a green roof, so it blends into its surroundings. The curved roofs make for fabulously quirky ceilings inside.
This Hobbit hole house is dug into the hillside and laid with a green roof, so it blends into its surroundings. The curved roofs make for fabulously quirky ceilings inside.
Fall for small
This tiny house in Oregon, US, accommodates a family of four, thanks to clever planning. A large, open-plan space is home to kitchen, dining and living areas, while the adults have a sleeping loft accessed by a ladder, which makes use of the available roof height. The green roof makes a modern, eco-friendly contrast to the traditional white cottage.
Explore 28 of the best small homes
This tiny house in Oregon, US, accommodates a family of four, thanks to clever planning. A large, open-plan space is home to kitchen, dining and living areas, while the adults have a sleeping loft accessed by a ladder, which makes use of the available roof height. The green roof makes a modern, eco-friendly contrast to the traditional white cottage.
Explore 28 of the best small homes
Go for a smart sail
Inland waterway boats are traditional single-storey homes and this lovely Dutch barge has been painstakingly modernised to create a compact, stylish interior.
Inland waterway boats are traditional single-storey homes and this lovely Dutch barge has been painstakingly modernised to create a compact, stylish interior.
Put a lid on it
A flat roof keeps a single storey home looking sleek and unobtrusive. The wooden cladding on this modernist house will weather to a soft grey and help to relax those clean architectural lines.
A flat roof keeps a single storey home looking sleek and unobtrusive. The wooden cladding on this modernist house will weather to a soft grey and help to relax those clean architectural lines.
Embrace tradition
Single-storey homes built mainly in wood are a typical modest dwelling on the west coast of the US, where a mild climate means a more solid brick construction is not needed. This charming house in Los Angeles has been given a modern makeover, with colourful paintwork outside and a light, open-plan interior.
Single-storey homes built mainly in wood are a typical modest dwelling on the west coast of the US, where a mild climate means a more solid brick construction is not needed. This charming house in Los Angeles has been given a modern makeover, with colourful paintwork outside and a light, open-plan interior.
Choose eco
Arranged on one level with traditional mud-plastered walls, this highly energy-efficient home in New Mexico has a solar hot water and electricity system.
Discover what you need to know about eco homes
Arranged on one level with traditional mud-plastered walls, this highly energy-efficient home in New Mexico has a solar hot water and electricity system.
Discover what you need to know about eco homes
Log on
The archetypal cabin in the woods has timeless appeal. Constructed from chunky logs, this evocative design has small windows for maximum heat conservation.
TELL US…
Do you like single-storey dwellings? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
The archetypal cabin in the woods has timeless appeal. Constructed from chunky logs, this evocative design has small windows for maximum heat conservation.
TELL US…
Do you like single-storey dwellings? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
This elegant Boat House on the south coast of England is built on raised supports over the water. Masses of glass give anyone sitting inside the sense of being part of the landscape.