Traditionally, in terms of the architecture of new houses, there are 3 main types of models found in the UK.: the contemporary house, the traditional house and the modern house. Let's see together the characteristics and specificities of each, so that when it comes to renting or purchasing your new home, you have a better understanding of the incredible styles available today.
The Contemporary House
It is difficult to define what exactly a contemporary house is, even if most of the time, we classify under this adjective the majority of new constructions that are emerging from the ground today.
Straddling the traditional house and the modern house, this house offers a significantly refined and sober style, with all the same a touch of modernity. Flat roof or sloping roof, single storey or storey, wood or brick materials, there are no predefined rules for the construction of a contemporary house. In terms of interior architecture, this type of habitat is mainly organised around a spacious living room, which includes a living room, a dining room, a kitchen and sometimes even a pantry. Likewise, the contemporary house is often built to centralise the important part of the house around an open terrace and a garden.
The Traditional House
The traditional house is the most common type of new house in England and usually is created from standard brick or stone. Because of this popularity, its construction price is much lower than for another model of house. Usually built with a sloping roof, this house can be on one level or on two floors, and is not characterised by its particular style.
On the contrary, it is more the result of a regional trend, and can therefore vary significantly depending on your location. Built on reinforced concrete foundations and matched with a wooden, steel or aluminium frame, the construction of a traditional house is organised around 3 different types of materials:
Concrete blocks, a material renowned for its strength and one of the advantages of which is that it is inexpensive, even if it shows its limits in terms of thermal resistance and insulation,
Brick, a material offering better insulating qualities than concrete block, although it remains significantly more expensive than the latter,
Mineral block, or stone, a material popular for its aesthetic qualities and for its insulating and thermal performance, but which remains very expensive overall.
Modern House
As we said a little above, the modern house is quite close in its style to the contemporary house. However, it is a construction that stands out thanks to many criteria. Straight angles, cubic shape, flat roof, large windows or large sliding picture windows, the modern house is always based around geometric and refined lines. As for materials, all desires are permitted, some of which also allow better consideration of the thermal regulations in force. Concrete, wood, brick or metal, it is above all a home that manages to combine aesthetics and energy performance. Often designed by architects or project managers, the modern house still requires a certain budget.
You may find the modern home has some sustainable elements in its design. This may include new boilers, optimising energy and water use and perhaps the use of solar panels.