Single storey homes

Banish all thoughts of flimsy dated bungalows — single-storey houses can be super stylish structures, offering fantastically practical layouts suited to all lifestyles and needs. To prove it, we’ve pulled together some of the best designs out there

- NATASHA BRINSMEAD

ARCHITECTURAL MOODBOARD

THE MODERN-DAY PAVILION HOME

The composed presence of this pavilion-style building, designed by Woldon Architects, was built on the site of a tired 1960s bungalow. The house takes on a symmetrical form, flanked either side by private wings. Its rectangular shape uses a materials palette sourced locally to complement the surroundings it sits in. The main pavilion-style house is an open-plan configuration, centred around a fireplace which opens out onto the terrace. Slenderframed sliding glazed window frames help blur the boundary between inside and out.

While it’s true that single-storey homes are a practical solution for those who find stairs tricky to navigate, they have many more advantages than this. Firstly, in the hands of a skilled architect or designer, a single-storey property can offer a lovely sense of flow and ensures each space feels naturally connected to the other.

Then there is the way in which having all the rooms on one level makes it possible to connect so seamlessly to the exterior spaces, whether that is through large picture windows or expanses of opening glazing. With no staircase to factor in, the layout possibilities are maximised and a wonderfully fresh, open sense of living can be introduced.