Architecture

Sir Edwin Lutyens: Britain's greatest architect?

This year is the 150th anniversary of the birth of Edwin Lutyens, one of Britain’s most celebrated architects. John Goodall revisits his life, personality and work.

The Hope Mausoleum, Deepdene: As grand a resting place as any of the great and the good could wish for

The restoration of this once-forgotten 19th-century mausoleum in Surrey is 'heroic', says John Goodall. Photography by Justin Paget for the Country Life Picture Library.

The Roman Baths: A tale of two architects, a heated competition and a fascinating restoration

In the late 19th century, the eponymous hot baths of this city were recast in their modern form. Clive Aslet describes this fascinating transformation. Photographs by Paul Highnam.

Hamptworth Lodge: An Arts-and-Crafts house in the New Forest that blends in a touch of the Cotswolds

Hamptworth Lodge grew as a haven for collectors of all kinds, as well as a lovingly-created family home. Clive Aslet reports. Photographs by Justin Paget.

The great architect Donald Insall on saving Windsor Castle, refurbishing Westminster and how buildings change throughout their lives

Inside the restored Brighton Pavilion: ‘It’s hard to imagine a more perfect time to visit this extraordinary Regency creation’

The Country Life Top 100 builders, architects, interior decorators and garden designers in Britain

Country Life's experts have delved into their little black books to bring you the finest architects, builders, interior decorators and garden designers in Britain.

The best builders and craftspeople in Britain

Whether you're embarking on a new-build or painstakingly restoring a listed building, here are the craftsmen with excellent foundations.

The exceptional tale of Manchester Town Hall, a Victorian masterpiece that's the finest building of its kind in Britain

In 2018, the celebrated Manchester Town Hall closed for a six-year renovation. Country Life recorded its empty interiors before work began and Steven Brindle tells its exceptional story. Photographs by Will Pryce.

The Travellers Club: Home to London's globe trotters for the past 200 years

To mark the bicentenary of The Travellers Club, the oldest club in Pall Mall, John Martin Robinson tells the story of an institution and its home, a purpose-built Renaissance palace. Photographs by Paul Highnam.

Benington Lordship: From medieval castle to comfortable home – and back again

The Benington Lordship in Hertfordshire started life as a medieval castle, but has been transformed over the centuries into a comfortable house with ambitious neo-Norman additions and continues to thrive under owners Richard and Susanna Bott.

The Great Barn at Harmondsworth: 600 years of grandeur, history and restoration, now under threat by Heathrow's third runway

The Great Barn at Harmondsworth is the largest standing medieval timber-framed structure in Britain – and it has just been restored. Edward Impey investigates the remarkable story of its construction and its medieval use. Photographs by Will Pryce.

The Castle of Mey: Inside the Queen Mother's beloved home

A visit to Scotland in the first months of her widowhood encouraged The Queen Mother to buy and restore a castle. John Goodall describes the history of the building and the achievements of the trust that has managed it for the past 22 years.

A chance to build an outrageously beautiful treehouse within glorious Cotswolds woodland

If you're looking for a truly unique house offering true get-away-from-the-world isolation, Ewen Tree House could be the opportunity you've been waiting for.

Blenheim Palace's lost ballroom, theatre and chambers seen for the first time in 250 years

Recent work has meant that chambers unseen for 250 years have emerged from the murky underwater depths at Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Annunciata Elwes reports.

Country Life's best architecture stories of 2018: Destruction, salvation and the Gunpowder Plot

Our roster of architecture writers have brought some astonishing stories of country houses which have survived and now thrive despite everything history has thrown at them. Here are the ten most popular of those articles from 2018.

The Cathedral of Christ, Liverpool: The fascinating story of Britain's largest cathedral

The architect who created the red telephone kiosk and the London power station today occupied by Tate Modern also designed Britain’s largest cathedral. John Goodall looks at the story of this masterpiece.

In Focus: A moment in time capturing the gulf between architects' dreams and residents' realities

Tony Ray-Jones was one of a generation of photographers who chronicled life in Britain in the 1960s and 1970s, demonstrating the gulf between the dreams of town planners and the reality for the residents. Chloe-Jane Good takes a look at one of his most famous images.

Pitshill House: A 20-year restoration that’s created one of the finest country seats in West Sussex

A major restoration project has brought 18th-century Pitshill House and its gardens to life. The work involved far more than simple repair, as John Martin Robinson explains, with photography by Paul Highnam for the Country Life Picture Library.

Six of Britain’s finest art and building conservationists on history, technology and the secrets of their trades

It takes a huge amount of skill and technical expertise to restore historic objects and interiors. John Goodall speaks to six specialists about their work and its challenges.