'Trend'20th May 2010
Are you one of the millions of people who find yourself turning a shade of green whenever you watch Grand Designs? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in one of the inspired residential creations on the show?
Now could be your chance: the famous Clapham 'curved house' which appeared on series four in 2004 and then again in 2008 is available for rent.
If you didn’t see the episode, the story behind this property centred, literally, around a giant chestnut tree.
When Anjana and David Devoy realised their Clapham home was becoming too small for their expanding family, they decided to make use of their large garden by building a house on the land.
A great idea, they thought, until they were told they wouldn’t be permitted to pull down the tree that stood in the middle of it.
Their solution? Build the new house around the tree – which resulted in their property being referred to as ‘the curved house’.
The construction, as you’d expect, was fraught with both major and minor difficulties but finally, after fifteen months of toil, tension and tears, the new home was completed and even the pedantic Mr McCloud seemed impressed by the finished product.
So why did the Devoys put themselves through all that trauma only to end up renting the place?
Lettings agent Sarah Charlton from Morgan Randall explains that - somewhat ironically given the reason behind the project - the Devoys feel that the house is too big for them while their children are still very young, so letting it is an ideal temporary solution.
As you’d expect for such a high calibre house, it doesn’t come cheap. But the weekly rent of £1,900 will buy you three storeys worth of living space in an exceptionally well-designed, contemporary and unique home. You’ll also have a delightful courtyard garden with the infamous chestnut tree still in pride of place.
The property has four bedrooms but Sarah tells us that the Devoys, who are still in situ, are happy to amend this to two or three bedrooms provided the lease is taken long-term.
And who knows, perhaps some of their creativity will rub off, and you may end up with ideas for a Grand Design of your own.