These people built their dream homes to retire in
These forever homes were labours of love

Modern timber house, Munich, Germany

Modern timber house, Munich, Germany

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.
Modern timber house, Munich, Germany

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.
Timber frame house, Munich, Germany

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.
Modern timber house, Munich, Germany

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.
Modern timber house, Munich, Germany

Characterful oak home, Powys, UK

Characterful oak home, Powys, UK

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.
Characterful oak home, Powys, UK

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.
Characterful oak home, Powys, UK

Characterful oak home, Powys, UK

Characterful oak home, Powys, UK

Bespoke tiny house, Manawatu, New Zealand

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.”
Bespoke tiny house, Manawatu, New Zealand

Bespoke tiny house, Manawatu, New Zealand

Bespoke tiny house, Manawatu, New Zealand

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.
Bespoke tiny house, Manawatu, New Zealand

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.
Bespoke tiny house, Manawatu, New Zealand

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."
Country home, Guangzhou, China

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.
Country home, Guangzhou, China

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.
Country home, Guangzhou, China

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.
Country home, Guangzhou, China

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.
Country home, Guangzhou, China

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.
Country home, Guangzhou, China

Woodland retreat, London, UK

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.
Woodland retreat, London, UK

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.
Woodland retreat, London, UK

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.”
Woodland retreat, London, UK

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.
Woodland retreat, London, UK

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.
Woodland retreat, London, UK

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.
Modern bungalow, Dorset, UK

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.
Modern bungalow, Dorset, UK

Modern bungalow, Dorset, UK

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.
Modern bungalow, Dorset, UK

Modern bungalow, Dorset, UK

Modern bungalow, Dorset, UK

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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