Architect Chris Tapp bought a timber cabin on the riverside at Henley over six years ago, with the intention of turning it into an innovative home capable of coping with the flood threat in the area.
Over 25 different plans were drawn up before deciding on the design that eventually came to fruition, resulting in a stunning home now on the market for £1.5m. In a spectacular setting in a private road and having a river mooring of 94 feet, the house cost £500,000 to build and is raised on 6 foot high stilts, with the framework being constructed of Douglas fir beams connected with steel bolts.
The exterior of the house is clad with timber and was built using specifically manufactured component parts, while the interior boasts several examples of cutting-edge technology, not least of which is the jacking system enabling the section used as offices to be raised several feet at the touch of a button to combat imminent flooding.
Conservation of resources has been designed into the building with water-source and ground-source heat pumps being installed to extract heat from the river and ground. The wall panels have been well insulated, while the house has a southerly aspect to increase the efficiency of the solar panels on the roof.
The living and recreation space has been maximised by the use of mezzanine flooring built to house the gym, while the double height windows in the bedrooms and living area offer stunning views of the surrounding countryside and river.
