_5 design-led, architecturally striking UK homes for sale

If you're searching for a property that goes beyond the ordinary and offers a truly exceptional living experience, look no further.

We've scoured the UK to bring you five design-led, architecturally striking homes for sale now through Knight Frank. These properties redefine luxury living and showcase modernist design at its finest.

Whether you're a connoisseur of contemporary architecture or simply seeking a unique place to call home, these homes are designed to captivate your imagination.

2 bedroom house in Warwick Avenue, London

Guide price: £9,750,000

Discreetly located behind a walled garden in Warwick Avenue, this extraordinary, two bedroom modernist home is a masterpiece designed by Wells Mackereth.

The award-winning property seamlessly blends industrial elements in its newly built section with traditional materials in the old part of the property, a former coach house that served as a workshop and ticketing office.

Among its many striking features is the double-height vaulted room with a sunken kitchen, inspired by Frank Sinatra's Palm Springs home. Elsewhere, a hydraulically operated door opens into the rear garden, retaining the property's industrial heritage with features like winches and winding gear. 

There's ample space to entertain in the property, from the plush basement library/cinema room to the rear garden, front walled garden and a cosy roof terrace.

4-5 bedroom house in Carnbargus, Cornwall

Offers in excess of: £2,500,000

This contemporary home close to the Cornish coast aims to redefine modern living with innovative design.

Built in 2023, it features cutting-edge technology for optimum comfort and eco-credentials, including a ground source heat pump, electrically operated gates, and the latest heating and sound systems.

The grand design features a floating steel staircase, floor-to-ceiling glazed walling and a kitchen/dining room with double-height ceilings and top-of-the-range appliances. Floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding doors offer serene views of ponds and a circular terrace with a sunken fire pit.

Elsewhere, the cork flooring and Nordpeis wood burner add warmth and charm. Relaxation is a key aspect of the property; the principal suite includes a free-standing bath and steam room, while outside, you'll find a swimming lake, landscaped gardens, and a six-car garage with a workshop and gym space.

4 bedroom house for sale in Highgate, London

Guide price: £6,500,000

Known as The Grey House, this award-winning modern masterpiece designed by Eldridge Smerin offers breathtaking views of Waterlow Park and Highgate Cemetery. The house has starred in TV shows, including crime series Luther, and appeared in several notable modern architecture books.

The south and west elevations are fully glazed, providing spectacular leafy views, while the street façade is a mysterious curtain wall of honed black granite and steel panels. Highlights inside include the open-plan entertaining room, a kitchen with a retractable glass roof and a glass-walled study.

Balconies adorn the first and second-floor rooms, and a state-of-the-art cinema room is in the basement. Modern technology, integrated audio-visual systems and underfloor heating top off a wholly luxurious living experience. 

6 bedroom house in Wentworth, Surrey

Guide price: £24,000,000

This modernist masterpiece, known as Cherry Hill, is the former country estate of US Ambassador John Hay Whitney. Located in the sought-after Wentworth Estate, the sprawling, six bedroom home was built in the 1930s by British architect Oliver Hill.

Recently, the property has undergone a sensitive but ambitious restoration. The result preserves its original architectural character while transforming it into a sustainable modern home equipped with every convenience imaginable.

Highlights include the rebuilt east wing, where you'll find a cinema, study and a wine cellar with a subterranean link to a single-storey guest accommodation. The cherry on top? A luxurious basement swimming pool with descending floor.

6 bedroom house, Gerrards Cross

Guide price: £6,500,000

Fortuna is a contemporary family home equipped with state-of-the-art amenities. Built in 2018, the property offers grand proportions and sleek design yet feels wonderfully private and homely. 

The kitchen, designed by Zyko, is a standout feature, with Wolf and Sub-zero appliances and ample entertaining space.

Outside, the gardens are landscaped with a large rear terrace, a pond decorated with a water feature and a modern summer house.  

Thinking of selling or renting your home? Request a market appraisal here