The Orchid House Finds Mystery Buyer

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Apr 29th 2008 at 8:02AM

Three years ago I first wrote about the unique landmark houses that are part of the Lower Mill Estate in Gloucestershire, England. The houses, designed as second residences, are all unique, some have rooms that open, revolving doors or are designed to slide out over the lake. One of the most interesting, the Orchid House has sold for £7.2 million. The Orchid House design is based on the bee orchid found on the reserve. It was designed by Sarah Featherstone and will take three years to build but when it is completed it will hopefully produce more energy than it uses, relying on geothermal heating and cooling, rainwater and solar and wind power for energy. The buyer hasn't been named but is rumored to be in the entertainment business. I can easily imagine this development as a celebrity version of a grown-up Andrew Henry's Meadow.

Gallery: The Landmark Homes of Lower Mill Estates