‘Wallace and Gromit’ house with MOTORISED roof splits viewer opinions on Grand Designs
The potential winner of the RIBA Design Awards 2016 was shortlisted for the prize on the Channel 4 programme tonight.
Inside the magical Wallace and Gromit Grand Designs house
The house, described as an “Ingenious Wallace and Gromit box of tricks” by Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud, was called “spooky” and “ugly” by viewers.
The three-bedroom house in Edinburgh was shortlisted for its use of space as well as its bizarre features including two loud motorised roofs and a side of the wall that opens in front of the bathtub - offering neighbours quite the view.
Architect Richard Murphy designed the house, and the project took nine years in total before his dream was realised.
The architect designed the house, where he lives himself, with a hidden windows in front of a bathtub, which is also concealed to look like a bench.
“You can roll out of bed on Sunday morning and take an alfresco bath. It’s very relaxing,” he tells presenter Damian Burrows, who visited the property to take a look around.
The house also featured two enormous roofs, which are moved away by a motor.
These motors where just one of the things viewers criticised about the house.
One wrote: “Thats like a f****** jet plane taking off, its that noisy.” [sic]
Architect Richard Murphy designed the house, and the project took nine years in total
The potential winner of the RIBA Design Awards 2016 was shortlisted for the prize
Another said: “dont like Murphy's house either too much faffing around with all the gadgets and stuff #granddesigns.” [sic]
Another was unimpressed as the house made the shortlist. They wrote: “So far the four ugliest houses have been shortlisted for #granddesigns #HouseOfTheYear.”
Another said: “Oh, my! The Spooky house has been shortlisted! 'Outside is dangerous...Inside is terrifying' #granddesigns.”
However, other viewers were fans of the quirky house.
The house also featured two enormous roofs, which are moved away by a motor, above
One said: “The gromit house looks so much fun! #granddesigns #RIBA.”
Another added: “This house (Murphy House by Richard Murphy) is brilliant #granddesigns”.
The house was shortlisted alongside the Covert House in south London.
Each week they will reveal the shortlisted projects, with the winner announced on 15 December.
The RIBA awards champion the best architecture in the UK and around the world.