MYSTERY OF GRAND DESIGNS Then
IT is the futuristic eco-mansion that enthralled viewers of hit TV show Grand Designs and was branded “awe-inspiring” by host Kevin McCloud.
But all is not well at this luxury holiday home in the Lake District.
It appears to have been abandoned – and families who have booked stays there are getting worried.
Ultra- modern, seven- bedroom Dome House Boutique nestles in the hillside above Bowness-in-Windermere and has stunning views.
Architect and owner Robert Gaukroger spent two years building the unique property, all recorded by Channel 4 cameras.
It was designed to double as a family home and luxury self-catering holiday apartments.
Yet over the past few weeks, locals have noticed it stands empty.
The gardens are looking scruffy and overgrown and there is no sign of the visionary proprietor.
His absence has been noted by paying customers. Some claim they have been left chasing £1,000 deposits and say they have struggled to get hold of Gaukroger to find answers.
Glowing
And websites that formerly described the property in glowing terms are no longer accepting bookings.
Mum of- three Claire Farn was hoping to spend a week at the Dome in August after paying £1,000 for two families to stay. She heard nothing back for a month when she asked if her booking was still valid.
What may have worried her more is that Gaukroger has been trying, in vain, to sell the house for some time.
Last year the property was put on the market £2.3million. Within months the price had plunged to £1.45million. It now appears to have been removed from sale altogether.
Earlier this year it emerged Gaukroger was planning to split the building into separate apartments and sell them off. There is little evidence to show that venture got off the ground, with architect Gaukroger still listed as the registered owner of the property.
The 7,000 sq ft contemporary wooden structure has a curved wild grass roof and suites with Scandinavian furnishings.
When presenter McCloud took his famous walk through the completed property in 2010, he raved over its pool, hot tub and sauna, four-poster beds and stunning views.
At the time, the owner was equally enthusiastic. He said: “Not only do I have a home but what looks like a flourishing business. After Grand Designs we had 100 bookings in a week.”
But since then some customers have complained about silence from the firm when t hey try updating bookings.
Mrs Farn heard nothing f r om Dome Boutique for a month. She received an email offering a full refund only on Friday