Modern country house that won a RIBA award for design goes on sale |

published 15 July 2020

An award-winning architect-designed modern house set in a leafy Hertfordshire hamlet has gone on sale for £1.7 million.

Piper's End was designed by acclaimed architect Níall McLaughlin in 2006, and he won a RIBA award for the project in 2009. Sitting in two acres of land, the spectacular home sits on a quiet country lane, yet is under an hour away from London. It's now on sale for the first time since the current owners commissioned it.

The entirely-glazed facade offers a spectacular first impression, and offers views out over the secluded garden terrace, orchard and paddock.

Shards of natural light beam in to the two-storey building, which was designed to be low-lying and in keeping with the surrounding undulating farmland.

The double-height, open-plan living room forms the centre of the house and faces the garden terrace, framing wide views of the paddock to the south.

The dining area and kitchen sit under a suspended ceiling, creating a more intimate setting. A utility space and ground-floor cloakroom are set opposite.

One of the five bedrooms is also located on this level and offers flexibility as a sleeping area, with a large bathroom adjacent, or as a secondary living space. There is also a separate study and ground level.

Four further bedrooms are arranged across the first floor, three with floor-to-ceiling glazed walls looking onto the garden.

The master bedroom is positioned on the easterly wing of the house, reached by a gallery walkway with views down over the main space.

Outside, a perforated-steel canopy shades the terrace and the concrete pond, which reflects light back into the house.

The house was conceived as five strips, characterised by different materials: a thicket of silver birch; a timber cabinet; a vitrine of timber framed glass; a loggia of steel columns supporting a perforated metal canopy and a concrete reflecting pool.

Letty Green is a pretty village with a well-regarded pub called The Cowper Arms just a stroll away. There's also a wealth of walking and cycling routes around the house for when you want a dose of that fresh country air.

Piper's End is on the market with The Modern House for £1,695,000.

Ruth Doherty is a lifestyle journalist based in London. An experienced freelance digital writer and editor, she is known for covering everything from travel and interiors to fashion and beauty. She regularly contributes to Livingetc, Ideal Home and Homes & Gardens, as well as titles like Prima and Red. Outside of work, her biggest loves are endless cups of tea, almond croissants, shopping for clothes she doesn’t need, and booking holidays she does.