Breathtaking bungalows
THIS WEEK: Brilliant bungalows, including this 6,200 sq ft monster with a stunning pool
LIVING on one floor has many advantages. There are no stairs to climb, gutters are easily accessible for cleaning, and there is plenty of roof space for solar panels. And bungalows can be a good investment. As more and more are bulldozed to make way for two-storey houses, they become rarer, which increases their value.
Bungalows don’t need to be boring, either. Take Greenhouses, near the village of Marsh Benham in Berkshire. Located within the Capability Browndesigned grounds of Benham Park, the five-bedroom property incorporates three stunning and very large Victorian greenhouses and two orangeries. It was bought by Keith and Margaret Smith in 1985. Although the couple were not looking for a bungalow, they instantly fell in love with it.
‘It has been the most amazing family house,’ says Margaret, 65, the registrar at the independent school Pangbourne College. The single-storey layout worked particularly well as the couple’s children, Penny and Alexander, were aged six and one respectively when the family moved in. ‘Living on one floor is perfect for small children,’ says Margaret. ‘You never have to run upstairs and the children could play in their bedrooms but still be close at hand.’
But wasn’t having all that glass around children a huge liability? ‘We were very lucky – balls bounced off the windows quite a few times, but they never broke.’
The main part of Greenhouses was built with reclaimed bricks from old stables, and the three greenhouses lead off this. When the Smiths bought the 6,200 square foot house, the greenhouses were just empty spaces. ‘We had a gardener come in to design the layout of the plants in the central one and found some lovely floor tiles, which came from a French chateau,’ Margaret says.
‘We have skirting radiators all around the interior, so it’s warm enough in the winter. And in the summer, we just open all the windows. It doesn’t get too hot.’
One of the structures contains a swimming pool and another is used as a guest flat. The property also has walled gardens, a double garage and stables.
The only downside, according to Margaret, is the amount of glass to be cleaned. ‘We have it done properly once a year, but otherwise we do it ourselves. It is a bit of a mission,’ she laughs.