For many, the idea of building an amazing home where you can enjoy your golden years is nothing more than a pipe dream. However, these ambitious homeowners defied the odds and transformed their plans into reality. From wow-factor properties that don't scrimp on luxury to eco-friendly tiny houses that maximise every nook and cranny, discover the stories behind these amazing forever homes.

Almost 10 years ago, Rudolf and Maria Janssen decided to retire to an apartment in Munich. However, when Rudolf’s health took a turn for the worse, the pair decided that a bespoke dwelling would be much better suited to their living situation. “It was clear that we wanted to build our own home, and a prefabricated house made of wood was the only design in question,” says Maria.

The pair enlisted WeberHaus, a specialist self-build package home company, to help them bring their forever home to life. Now complete, the stunning timber house is sleek and modern, with each element designed and cut to size in the company's factory.

The innovative house features a barrier-free layout, making the living spaces completely accessible. Each of the doors in the house features a flush, level finish, allowing Rupert to move around the house independently in his wheelchair. There's also a lift so Rupert can go easily between the floors.

The entire house is decorated in a sleek, minimalist style. White walls and pale wood flooring frame light and airy accommodation that's perfect for Rupert and Maria's needs. “The best thing about our house is that it is clearly structured, compact and bright,” say the couple.

In addition to the elegant, contemporary décor, the views from the house are incredible. The property has been orientated to make the most of the rolling rural vistas – one of the main reasons that the couple snapped up the scenic plot. In this bedroom, patio doors frame the best of the surrounding landscape.

The bathroom includes a walk-in shower, making it completely accessible for Rudolf. Energy efficiency was another important priority for the Janssens. “We had enormous costs in our old house and definitely wanted to lower them,” says Rudolf. A thermally-efficient structure with plenty of insulation keeps the heat in, while a heat pump and solar panels further bolster the house’s green credentials.

Ian and Julie Perrin were looking for the perfect place to retire to when they discovered the historic market town of Montgomery in Powys, Wales. “My grandparents came from this part of the world,” says Ian. “We sat in the square eating ice cream and said, I think we could be happy living here.” The only thing they were missing was their dream house.

The pair spotted a patch of land for sale on the edge of town, but because of its awkward sloping terrain, they were unsure they’d be able to build on it. However, coming across homebuilding company Welsh Oak Frame at a self build exhibition, they had their hope renewed. Embarking on an ambitious project, the end result was this stunning stone-clad house.

Six months into the self build project, the frame was delivered to site from Welsh Oak Frame's factory. “It was really exciting for us,” says Julie. “The crane lifting the great timbers caused quite a spectacle. It took about three weeks to get the main structure up and then we really felt like we had a house.” Now complete, elements of the wooden structure have been left exposed, creating a homely, rustic feel.

The couple worked closely with the company's design team on the floor plan of the property. Inside, the stunning new build is steeped in character and quirky architectural details. The main living room benefits from a lofty cathedral ceiling, with exposed oak beams and rustic trusses.

Julie and Ian’s plot sloped diagonally upwards and their neighbour’s pipe ran right through the middle of the site, so there were a few obstacles to overcome. Yet, they’ve been able to create a stunning home that makes the most of the plot's gorgeous surroundings. In the bedroom, a glazed gable frames incredible vistas of the rolling countryside. Imagine waking up to that view!

The kitchen, like the rest of the rooms in the house, features exposed oak detailing, while sleek, streamlined kitchen units add a modern twist. Julie and Ian are delighted with their forever home. “We’re both very happy living here,” Ian says. “We’ve got the house we wanted in the town we wanted to live in."

Having previously designed and built a tiny house, Dave and Adrienne set about creating a new pocket-sized property that could adapt to their retirement needs. “The new one is a lot different,” says Dave, in a documentary for Living Big In A Tiny House. “We’ve gone for longer – 7.2m rather than 6.5m. It’s a completely different design.”

Featuring navy clapboarding with a white trim, the charming new house is situated in a stunning rural location in Manawatu, New Zealand. The couple also purchased a retro caravan to sit next to the house, providing both guest accommodation and a holiday home for when they go away. “Adrienne fell in love with it,” says Dave. “It had belonged to a friend who died. We painted it up and named it after her.”

One of the biggest design changes from the couple’s first tiny house was the decision to add stairs rather than a ladder. Not only does this make the house more accessible, but it also provides valuable space for built-in storage. Adrienne and Dave’s bedroom is situated in the loft, which includes a small landing. “Dave is able to bring my room service up to me in the morning,” says Adrienne.

In order to future-proof the property and ensure it's accessible for years to come, there's also a guest room downstairs that could one day be converted into the couple's main bedroom if necessary. Bright and airy, the colourful space is currently used as a peaceful reading nook, benefiting from tranquil views across the rolling fields.

The compact kitchen has been carefully designed and features a small gas oven and hob. A handy pantry has been incorporated for the couple to store the food and condiments they need. “The pantry is pretty small, but it’s big enough,” says Adrienne. “Often you keep more than you use.” The pair have a fold-out dining table and chairs, which also helps to save on space.

Despite its snug proportions, double-height ceilings in the living area lend a spacious and airy feel to the home. The pair have no regrets about their decision to up sticks to this miniature home. “It was Adrienne’s vision to go tiny,” says Dave. “When you get to 65, it’s quite satisfying,” he says. Adrienne agrees: “It’s a simpler way of living."

After knowing each other for more than 20 years, this group of seven friends joked about creating a home together for their retirement. Filmed as part of a documentary for the Chinese YouTube channel Yitiao, they put their plans into action in 2018 and started their hunt for the perfect plot for their bespoke home.

Featuring breathtaking views across the verdant countryside of China’s Guangzhou province, this gorgeous three-storey home is the result. The pals purchased what was originally a run-down redbrick property, determined to give the building a new lease of life as their forever home.

As well as the addition of a striking glass box extension, the once-dilapidated property has been transformed with a fresh coat of white render, giving the home a chic, modern vibe. Accommodation is spread across three and a half storeys, with a mix of airy communal living areas and more private spaces.

The roomy kitchen-diner is situated on the first floor of the property and offers a spacious zone for the women to socialise. Plenty of seating is provided at the dining table and breakfast bar to accommodate their families too. High ceilings and sleek modern finishes complete the contemporary scheme.

This jaw-dropping floating tearoom is the house’s pièce de résistance. Innovative floor-to-ceiling glazing on three sides of the cantilevered box ensures the far-reaching vistas take centre stage. Overhead, a bamboo ceiling adds tactile warmth to the space.

The friends’ bedrooms are situated across the upper floors of the house. Large windows allow each resident to make the most of the sublime views across the surrounding paddy fields. Each of the private zones also features its own seating area for kicking back and relaxing.

Mickey Green, a silk and printmaker, and her husband Terry had built a dedicated work studio in their back garden back in the 1990s. Over the years, the couple pondered building a new home in the garden too, where they could enjoy a relaxed retirement together. However, with restricted access to the plot, there were various obstacles but they found a way to build their dream home in their back yard. 

The couple decided on using a prefab house design from Facit Homes. Opting for a factory-built home that could easily be transported and pieced together on-site, the plot’s access issues were no problem. The end result is a stunning, modern dwelling tucked away in the woods.

Having lived in a Victorian end-of-terrace for the last 25 years, Terry and Mickey were keen to create a high-tech home with plenty of eco-friendly features. “We wanted something that was well insulated with low energy costs,” says Terry. “We went for a design where the house would be built on the flat part of the plot so we’d be looking out onto the garden like a kind of amphitheatre.”

The pair tailored the layout to their day-to-day needs, deciding on an open-plan kitchen-living-dining zone containing a large central island with built-in storage. Sleek black fixtures with copper detailing make the space feel modern and luxurious. 

Like Mickey’s print studio, Terry’s office area is on the first floor of the house, offering a peaceful escape from the sociable living area downstairs. Meanwhile, the couple's bedroom is located on the ground floor of the property to future-proof the layout for years to come. 

Industrial touches abound in the minimalist property, with concrete-effect flooring extending throughout the living spaces and sleek, streamlined furnishings. The couple are over the moon with the result: “We’re very positive about the whole experience. We’d urge other potential self builders to go ahead with it,” Terry says. 

Clean lines and lots of light were the order of the day when Ström Architects took on a project to replace an ageing bungalow with a new single-storey dwelling. The new house would have to serve as a forever home for a couple looking to live out their days in the beautiful surroundings of a country park in Swanage, on the UK’s south coast. 

Charles and Penny Hinton spent 20 years looking for the right site for their dream home. The house itself would also need to be easy to live in after retirement so it was decided that another single-storey house would be the best solution. It also meant they could take advantage of a steeply sloping site while also keeping the building’s profile low and unobtrusive.

The result? An amazing modernist concrete structure that cantilevers over a Purbeck-stone clad car well. The design was so impressive it was shortlisted for RIBA’s House of the Year competition in 2017 and featured on the Channel 4 programme Grand Designs.

Inside, the house is laid out layout is with bedrooms at either end of the long rectangular building and there’s an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area in the centre. The materials used on the outside of the building are also brought through to the interior, with Purbeck stone flooring and a concrete hearth.

While the house is effortlessly stylish it’s the innovative architecture that turned the judges heads for house of the year. Made from to slim concrete planes sandwiched together, the vertical supports needed to be incredibly strong to support the weight of the roof section. As such, fine concrete pillars were strengthened with steel fibres to make the structure stable.

The cantilever is another neat trick, allowing Charles to park his vintage Aston Martin safely under the house without spoiling the view from the house or the lines of approach. As Charles says: “It’s the lightest and most life-affirming building I’ve ever lived in.”

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