This extraordinary contemporary home in the Yorkshire Dales has won one of architecture’s top awards
Designing a contemporary home in the countryside has never been straightforward. Alongside the practical challenges of building in sensitive rural settings, projects are increasingly expected to meet demanding environmental standards.
A Yorkshire award-winning scheme has been recognised for achieving that balance.
The contemporary country house, designed and built by Skipton-based Rural Solutions, has won a 2026 RIBA Yorkshire Award, making it one of just five projects in the region to receive the honour in the awards’ landmark 60th anniversary year.
The project was also the only rural scheme and the only private house among the Yorkshire winners, highlighting the growing prominence of ambitious contemporary architecture in countryside settings.
Now the home will go forward for consideration for a national RIBA Award, with the shortlist for the Stirling Prize for the UK’s best building later drawn from those national winners.
Situated within the North Yorkshire National Landscape, the house was built under the National Planning Policy Framework’s “exceptional country house” clause, known as Paragraph 84e.
Homes approved through this route are expected to demonstrate exceptional architectural quality as well as high environmental standards.
For this project, Rural Solutions provided detailed design, planning and landscape services, securing planning consent and acting as delivery and technical design architect. The practice also worked as project manager and contract administrator alongside a wider regional team.
The concept architect was Sadler Brown Architects-Group, while Dobson Construction acted as the main contractor. Other organisations involved in the project included Paul Waite Associates, Silcock Leedham, Quantum Arbiter, Kit Peel Landscapes, Abigail Yeates Architects, David Houldershaw Arboriculturist, Vanessa Rhodes Interiors and Brilliant Lighting.
The design of the home draws inspiration from natural forms, reflecting the contours of the land and the organic shapes of leaves and water. The surrounding garden, originally created in Victorian times, has also been carefully restored as part of the client’s wider commitment to rejuvenating the historic setting.
Dry stone walls help blend the building into its sloping site, while copper-clad flutes rise above the structure to create a distinctive architectural statement within the landscape.
One of the project’s most technically challenging features is a dramatic 13-metre cantilevered balcony, which required an innovative structural solution balancing steel, timber and concrete elements.
Alongside its striking appearance, sustainability was central to the scheme from the outset. The house has achieved net zero operating performance through a combination of renewable energy systems and recycled materials.
Features include a living roof, a water source heat pump and hydro-electric power generated from the valley stream. Reclaimed and environmentally conscious materials were also used throughout the build, including decommissioned North Sea oil rig pipes, timber sourced from woodland on the site and green concrete.
Malcolm Birks, head of design at Rural Solutions, said: “Winning this award is a fantastic outcome for this project and recognises the dedication of the whole delivery team.
"The scheme demonstrates how contemporary design can sit comfortably within a sensitive rural setting and with sustainability embedded into every detail. It has been a truly collaborative experience, for a client who every day finds another aspect of the house and landscape to delight them.”
The award judges praised the project for balancing innovation with sensitivity to place.
Charlotte Harrison, Yorkshire Jury chair, RICS, added: “This house is a unique example of contemporary rural living – a home rooted in its place yet boldly of its time.
"The result is a home that is both intimately scaled and quietly confident, balancing craft, environmental performance and a distinctive regional character."
Rural Solutions works with clients across the UK on rural land and property projects.
The practice specialises in helping landowners, developers and rural businesses achieve planning, design and development ambitions through strategy, architecture and landscape expertise.
Its work spans everything from designing bespoke country homes to placemaking for rural communities and helping clients manage land and property portfolios.