Architecture

How a village forge became the charming family home of architect Hugh Petter

‘I am always pleased when somebody stands in front of one of my buildings and asks what I’ve done.’ Hugh Petter tells Clive Aslet how he altered his own home.

A thatcher's life: The ladders, the smell of the straw and the joy of creating a roof 'from something that resembles a bad hair day'

Once a poor man’s shelter, now a chocolate-box status symbol, thatched cottages are topped with straw and sedge, reed and heather: local materials laid by local men. Nick Hammond goes up in the world to find out more; photographs by Joe Bailey.

A Cotswolds cottage that shows just what's possible when architect, builder, craftsmen and owners come together in perfect harmony

The subtle remodelling and extension of an older cottage in the Cotswolds style by architect Robert Franklin is an exemplary essay in the Arts-and-Crafts spirit. Jeremy Musson reports, with photographs by Paul Highnam.

How architect Sandra Coppin sympathetically updated a Modern house in Wiltshire

‘Every element serves a purpose,’ says Sandra Coppin of the Modern property she updated for her own home, repurposing material along the way so that nothing went to waste.

The barn which architect Thomas Croft converted into a Postmodernist-influenced family home

‘I learnt that the best you can do is not too much,' Tom Croft tells Clive Aslet as he discusses how he adapted his own home for his family's use.

The latest update to Pevsner brings the 21st century update 'tantalisingly close to completion'

The work of updating Nikolas Pevsner and Ian Nairn's magnum opus on the buildings of England continues with a volume focusing on West Sussex. John Goodall takes a look.

Barnbougle Castle: A book-filled haven in Edinburgh where the water laps up to the garden’s edge

The waterside retreat of the Earl of Rosebery & Midlothian — a celebrated Victorian politician, sportsman, antiquarian and bibliophile — has been restored and brought back to life. John Martin Robinson reports on this remarkable survival; photographs by Paul Highnam.

St George's Hall: Why the world’s greatest neo-Classical building isn’t in London, Paris or Rome — it’s in Liverpool

The combined demand for a concert hall and a set of law courts in the burgeoning Atlantic port of Liverpool during the 1840s brought into being one of the greatest public buildings of the Victorian age.

Curious Questions: How does Tower Bridge work?

Tower Bridge celebrates its 125th birthday on June 30. But how does it work? And why was it built that way in the first place?

Belvoir Castle: From Norman conquest to Regency prodigy

New discoveries in the archives at Belvoir are fleshing out the history of this outstanding castle. John Goodall delves into the fresh evidence for the development of Belvoir from the Norman Conquest to the eve of its wholesale reconstruction from 1800.

A rare look inside Higham Hall, home of the Prince of Wales’ favourite architect Quinlan Terry

Higham Hall in Suffolk is the home of Quinlan Terry, the favourite architect of HRH The Prince of Wales and a leading contemporary exponent of Classicism. Clive Aslet reports; photographs by Paul Highnam.

The Devon Mansion that dreamt it was Versailles

An outstanding, but little-known treasure faces an uncertain future. Marcus Binney looks at the notable history of this house and issues a call for help.

Osborne House: Victoria and Albert’s Italian getaway on the Isle of Wight

The search for privacy and peace encouraged Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to create an Italianate seaside villa. It offers an unparalleled insight into their domestic life and private interests, as John Goodall explains.

How William Morris transformed his London home: 'Let us hope we shall all grow younger there, my dear'

William Morris's London home was just as remarkable as his country houses, as Clive Aslet discovered during a visit to the new exhibition at Kelmscott House.

The tale of Avington Park: ‘I have just bought a house. It doesn’t have five bedrooms, but 50. I think you should probably come home.’

Avington Park, Hampshire — the home of Sarah and Charlie Bullen — is a home with rather astonishing history that’s superbly set in the valley of the River Itchen. John Goodall finds out more; photographs by Will Pryce.

Life at the Royal Hospital Chelsea: From pensioners pumping iron to ‘Chelsea Chests’

The Hall, Bradford-on-Avon: A house that's a perfect expression of its style and a nursery for great British invention

The Hall in Bradford-on-Avon, Somerset, is a fine Jacobean house that's one of the finest surviving examples of its type. Nicholas Cooper explains its architectural and historical importance, and how it became home to some remarkable mechanical minds. Photographs by Paul Highnam for the Country Life Picture Library.

The magnificent puzzle of Crichel, one of Dorset’s grandest Georgian houses

John Martin Robinson is your guide to a place where peeling away one layer only ever seems to reveal several more.

Notre Dame: The soul of Paris, the heart of France

The devastating fire at Notre Dame in Paris has illustrated the huge affection in which this cathedral is held in Paris and across the world. It is an exceptional building that deserves its high reputation – John Goodall explains why.

Sir Edwin Lutyens: Britain's greatest architect?

This year is the 150th anniversary of the birth of Edwin Lutyens, one of Britain’s most celebrated architects. John Goodall revisits his life, personality and work.