Inside one of the ‘worst’ Grand Designs ever seen for sale for £1.95m
A ‘floating’ house that was featured on Grand Designs and labeled by viewers as one of the ‘worst’ they’ve ever seen is up for grabs for £1.95million.
The cantilevered steel frame house with four bedrooms was built on a floodplain on the Essex coast.
It appeared on the Channel 4 show in October 2021, with homebuilder Geoff – then aged 63 – explaining how he planned to spend his retirement completing the property.
The completed project led to the show’s host, Kevin McCloud, saying that the interior – including a combination of blue carpet and an orange sofa – was not “fashionable.”
A ‘floating’ home featured on Grand Designs is on the market for £1.95m via Fine & Country estate agents
The show’s host, Kevin McCloud, said the interior – including a blue carpet and an orange couch combination – was not “fashionable”
The house in the Essex village of Mayland, which lies between Burnham-on-Crouch and Maldon, and is called Seal Point.
It extends over 3,600 square feet, overlooking the Blackwater River Estuary.
It sits on a gravity-defying cantilevered first floor, which is approximately 15 feet above ground level.
The stairwell and lift lead to a first floor hallway and open plan living area with a kitchen.
There is a sizable 260 degree wrap-around terrace that connects the rooms and overlooks the large garden with a driveway.
The four-bedroom house in the Essex village of Mayland is called Seal Point and sprawls over 3,600 square feet, with views over the Blackwater River Estuary
There are stairs and a lift that lead to the hall on the first floor of the house
The steel superstructure stands on concrete piles that have been drilled 14 meters into the ground and the ground floor is made of poured waterproof concrete.
There are solar panels on the roof and an electronically controlled gated entrance along with a security system.
The sale of the property is being handled by Fine & Country, which said: ‘Seal Point is a one-off contemporary family home in a striking, architect-designed floating superstructure with far-reaching views over the home’s coastal location.’
The sale of the property is being handled by Fine & Country, which described Seal Point as ‘a one-off modern family home’
Self-builder Geoff had budgeted £700,000 to build the unusual house on the Essex coast
Homebuilder Geoff moved into a caravan for two years while he managed construction of the property.
He had to sell his luxury villa in Spain – where he had lived for 20 years – to help fund the £700,000 project.
Viewers were not impressed with the result, with the show’s host Kevin McCloud even admitting that the interior, which combines blue carpet and orange sofa, was not “fashionable.”
‘Terrible house, terrible decor. One of the worst houses I’ve ever seen,” one viewer wrote.
The steel superstructure stands on concrete piles that have been drilled 14 meters into the ground and the ground floor is made of poured waterproof concrete
On the Grand Designs episode, host Kevin commented on how complex the house was to build, saying, “The most important part of Geoff’s solo project will undoubtedly be underground. Here 30 heavy concrete steel piles of 14 meters deep are drilled.
“These stakes will be the key to anchoring this house to the ground.
‘The piles are connected to an industrial steel-strength frame, consisting of 560 steel girders – which form one enormous cantilever. The task of the frame is to transfer the load of the building into the soil.’
He continues: ‘The ground floor will be poured in waterproof concrete and there will be a utility room and a garage.
Upstairs, the exterior walls and partitions will all be made of wood – wrapping between and around the steel.
‘On this floor, an open-plan living room and kitchen will lead to a large balcony through floor-to-ceiling windows, with views stretching out over the estuary.’
There is a substantial 260 degree wraparound terrace connecting the various rooms in the house
Kevin continued that the three bedrooms would each have views and their own en-suite bathrooms, while an eye-catching, ridged roof finished with solar-applied tiles would help power the highly unusual island home.
He added: ‘Should the local flood defenses be breached, a stucco wall will keep Geoff’s garden dry, but if the water continues to rise, his power supply and drainage will be protected and the living spaces will continue to function.’
Kevin added that Geoff’s interior design choices have obviously been null and void knowing that the only person he needs to please is himself.
‘There are two more guest bedrooms, each with their own intoxicating views – and there’s even room for a study.
“Look, this is a respectable Geoff,” Kevin said. ‘Beautiful green carpet that matches the landscape outside.’
He added: ‘This house doesn’t look like a furniture show house – it’s not boring and it’s not grey.
“It’s not fashionable, but it’s Geoff’s autobiography. It’s all that means anything to him—and that’s kind of humbling.”
