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Treetop Retreat: Surrey's Eco-Chic House Soars Above the Oak Canopy

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  Published in House and Home on Friday, November 21st 2025 at 9:30 GMT by Metro

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Grand Designs Home of the Year 2025: Six Extraordinary Contenders

The long‑awaited Grand Designs Home of the Year award has finally arrived, and the shortlist is nothing short of spectacular. Six truly remarkable houses have been hand‑picked by the show’s producers, and each one showcases a different facet of architectural brilliance, sustainability, and sheer creative daring. Below is a detailed walk‑through of the six homes that have captured the imagination of the Grand Designs team and, ultimately, the viewers who will decide the winner.

1. The Treetop Retreat – Surrey

Perched high in the canopy of a mature oak forest, the Treetop Retreat is a marvel of modern engineering and eco‑design. The house is built on a network of stilts and wooden bridges that connect to an expansive balcony, offering panoramic views of the surrounding woods. Its most striking feature is a living roof, layered with native grasses and small trees that provide natural insulation and a habitat for local fauna. A photovoltaic array is cleverly integrated into the roof design, supplying the house’s electrical needs while remaining invisible from the ground.

Inside, the minimalist interiors are punctuated by reclaimed timber and recycled glass. The living area opens onto the balcony via a sliding door that, when opened, turns the entire space into an open-air sanctuary. The designers have also installed a state‑of‑the‑art rainwater harvesting system, which feeds the house’s greywater needs and contributes to the local ecosystem by maintaining the surrounding wetland.

Learn more about the Treetop Retreat’s sustainable strategy here: [ Eco‑Living Blog ].

2. The River House – Manchester

Located on the banks of the River Irwell, the River House is a blend of industrial chic and luxurious comfort. The architects drew inspiration from Manchester’s steel‑age past, using raw concrete and exposed brickwork as a backdrop for an elegant, glass‑enclosed living room that looks straight into the water. The house is built on a reclaimed warehouse, meaning the original loft spaces have been transformed into open, airy studios that accommodate the owner’s creative pursuits.

An outstanding feature of this property is the integrated “water wall” – a vertical garden that uses the river’s natural mist to keep the plant life thriving. The house is also fully passive, with a sophisticated solar‑thermal system that heats water in winter, while the large south‑facing windows maximise solar gain during the day. The designers have incorporated a green roof that reduces rainwater runoff and provides insulation.

For a deeper dive into the River House’s design process, check out the episode details: [ Grand Designs Episode 2025 ].

3. The Alpine Hideaway – The Scottish Highlands

The Alpine Hideaway is a stark, elegant retreat built into the cliff face of a remote Scottish loch. The house is a bold use of concrete and glass, allowing the dramatic landscape to remain the focal point. The design is notable for its geothermal heating system, which taps into the earth’s natural warmth to keep the house comfortably heated throughout the year.

The interior features a vaulted living area with a central stone fireplace, and large panoramic windows that frame the dramatic scenery of the highland lochs and mountains. The kitchen, while compact, is a masterpiece of space optimisation, with hidden storage and an energy‑efficient stove. Outdoor living is facilitated by a raised deck that slides open to create an infinity edge, making the loch appear to blend with the horizon.

The Alpine Hideaway also offers an innovative solution to waste: a biogas digester processes kitchen scraps to produce cooking gas, showcasing the designers’ commitment to a circular economy.

Explore the hidden secrets of the Alpine Hideaway: [ Highland Architecture Forum ].

4. The Urban Oasis – Bristol

The Urban Oasis is a dramatic reinterpretation of an old Victorian warehouse. The design team removed the roof to create a massive, light‑filled atrium that now serves as the heart of the home. The atrium is lined with a lush vertical garden, and the floor is a mosaic of reclaimed timber and recycled concrete pavers.

What makes this house stand out is its “smart” approach to sustainability. An advanced building management system monitors humidity, temperature, and light levels, automatically adjusting ventilation, heating, and artificial lighting to optimise energy usage. Solar panels are installed on the roof of the converted office wing, and the house also features a greywater recycling system that supplies the gardens.

The living spaces are split into distinct zones: a studio area for the owner’s art practice, a formal dining room, and a cozy lounge that opens onto a private balcony overlooking the city’s skyline.

See how the Urban Oasis maximises space in an urban environment: [ Bristol Living Magazine ].

5. The Coastal Cottage – Cornwall

The Coastal Cottage is a charming, traditional‑style home that redefines rural living with cutting‑edge sustainable technology. The house sits on a cliff edge and offers 360° views of the Atlantic. Its façade is clad in reclaimed slate and timber, while a large, energy‑efficient south‑orientated solar array powers the house’s electricity.

Inside, the cottage’s layout is an open plan with a spacious kitchen, a vaulted living area, and a loft bedroom. The design’s most impressive element is its “living chimney” – a double‑walled stove that uses a bio‑fuel pellet system, providing heat while producing little smoke. The water heating system is powered by a small solar thermal collector that feeds into a greywater recycling system.

The designers have also built a tiny garden that supports native pollinators and a small orchard that supplies fresh fruit year round.

Take a virtual tour of the Coastal Cottage: [ Cornwall Homes & Design ].

6. The Desert Mirage – Dubai

The Desert Mirage is an architectural tour‑de‑force situated in the heart of Dubai’s desert. The house boasts a striking blend of glass, steel, and stone, with a distinctive mirrored façade that reflects the surrounding dunes. The designers have employed a series of “thermal screens” that reduce heat gain during the day and release stored heat at night.

The interior is a fusion of modern minimalism and Arabian décor, with a central pool that doubles as a living space when the water is recirculated. A sophisticated smart‑home system allows the homeowners to control temperature, lighting, and security from a tablet, ensuring optimal comfort with minimal energy consumption.

The Desert Mirage also incorporates an extensive irrigation system that uses treated greywater to grow desert‑resistant plants, providing both aesthetic appeal and an eco‑friendly water management solution.

Explore the Mirage’s cutting‑edge desert architecture: [ Dubai Design Network ].

What Makes a Grand Design?

The Grand Designs show has always celebrated architecture that goes beyond aesthetic appeal and tackles real‑world challenges such as climate resilience, resource efficiency, and community impact. Each of the six houses on the shortlist demonstrates a unique blend of:

• Sustainability – from solar panels and geothermal heating to recycled materials and greywater systems.
• Innovation – smart‑home technology, living roofs, and vertical gardens.
• Contextual Sensitivity – designs that respond to their environment, whether forest, river, coast, or desert.
• Aesthetic Excellence – striking façades, thoughtful interiors, and the use of light and space.

The judging panel will evaluate the houses based on originality, craftsmanship, and the extent to which they embody the ethos of Grand Designs. However, the final decision will be made by the viewing public, who will cast their votes over the next few days. Whichever house wins, it will set a new benchmark for what an extraordinary home can be.

Stay tuned for the results, and in the meantime, explore the detailed designs and behind‑the‑scenes stories linked above to see why each of these six contenders deserves a place in the annals of architectural history.