It took two decades for David Homeshaw to get his dream home built in the Kent countryside.
But tragically, before he could see his ambitious passion project in Aldington, near Ashford, fully complete, he died aged 72.
Bracken Glen in Bourne Road, Aldington, near Ashford
Now his children have put the eye-catching property – and its surrounding 11 acres of land – on the market for £1.1 million.
His son George, a dad of one, has been living in the unique three-bed with his partner Emma Hunt.
The 37-year-old told KentOnline: “It’s an odd house, but it’s cool which is why I wanted to stay.”
The home, called Bracken Glen, is being sold so George and his sister’s inheritance can be split evenly.
“After probate was completed we decided to put the property on the market and see if anybody’s interested because it’s a wonderful spot,” he said.
George Homeshaw outside Bracken Glen
When David Homeshaw produced the plans for Bracken Glen in 2000, he drew inspiration from the past to produce a modern, energy-efficient design.
George said: “My dad was focused on trying to be as eco-friendly as possible for the time.
“He thought, ‘I’ll just use the Victorian method – the power of the sun.’
“So he put in lots of big windows.
“It was a big thing for him to have the shape of the house and the angles as they are because he wanted it to be heated up by the sun.”
Large windows have been used to heat Bracken Glen in Aldington
Bracken Glen has no central heating or radiators. Aside from the sun, it is warmed up by a log burner which runs through the middle of the property.
The couple admit that it can get too hot in the peak of summer – and a bit chilly in the depths of winter.
But George says the concept “100% works”.
With its quirky design, including a large, curved roof, Bracken Glen stands out from its quaint cottage neighbours in the leafy village.
It features a statement round window at one corner, with several more providing views across the land.
The home in Aldington features a spiral staircase
On the outside is industrial-style weatherboarding.
George said: “He was very into curves. If it could be curved, he would want it curved.
“A lot of the windows are curved and you’ve got a round central turret with the spiral staircase inside.
“The sloped roof is made from Falzinc sheets which are ribbed, sort of like lizard scales.
“As it heats up in the summer, the individual plates will shift. Then, as it gets colder, they’ll shrink. It means the temperature will never damage the building.”
David Homeshaw died just before the Aldington house was fully complete
The family moved to the site in 1995 when it was home to a 1920s bungalow.
Five years later, George’s parents decided they wanted to build a new house on the plot.
But due to the “unconventional” nature of the construction project, it took more than two decades to fully complete.
George explained: “It took probably about six or seven years to get planning permission for it.
“It then took until about 2016, 2017 to do the entire build process. It was managed by him, so it took a bit longer than a regular house builder.”
George Homeshaw’s dad David built the Aldington house to be as eco-friendly as possible
By 2022, the home, while habitable, needed building consent for alterations before it could be signed off as finally complete.
But George’s dad never got to see that happen.
Just as the final I’s were being dotted and T’s crossed, David died and his children inherited the house.
The unusual property has been on the market for two months and George admits a buyer would “need imagination”.
“I can definitely see that some people would not be 100% into it,” he said.
Bracken Glen in Aldington has been on the market for two months
But he believes the home has a lot of potential.
“This is a really good sort of blueprint if you want to add more bits to it,” George said.
“Or, if you’re in that position, it would be a great holiday home.
“I think that the real value of this place is it gives you all the extra space.
“It allows you to have more of a rural life without it being an actual farm.
Bracken Glen in Aldington is an unconventional home
“You’ve got plenty of room for 10, 20 sheep if you want, or three or four horses.
“There’s also two big outbuildings and you could get permission to do whatever you want with them.”