Meridian's Best Buildings: Henley dream home

ITV Meridian have been looking at the region's best buildings - the ones who have picked up the RIBA prize.

If you could build a house anywhere in our region, where would you choose? By the beach in Whitstable, right in the heart of the South Downs or overlooking the River Thames.

Well that's where one couple have just built their award winning home, with the garden rolling into the river. The neighbours aren't bad either - they're surrounded by beautiful old buildings, everything from Georgian mansions to a Tudor manor house.

So what did they build? Well that's where it gets interesting!

Watch Stacey Poole's report here:

This is an area of outstanding natural beauty surrounded by stunning buildings, so creating anything new here is never going to be easy.

This house was no exception there was so much opposition from neighbours and the local community it took 12 years to become reality but often the greatest challenges produce the best results.

Pheasants is pretty unique - everything you wouldn't expect a stones throw from the river Thames.

A brutal design of Concrete and rusted steel surrounded by water.

Dick and Judith:

What Dick and Judith wanted was a villa for the 21st century; a building that would do justice to the site and they've been involved with every detail.

Judith designed the metal screens that provide privacy to the bedrooms, and Dick was the inspiration behind the bespoke metal staircase that leads to the sliding glass roof - and the terrace beyond.

This is not your typical retirement home but it's everything they wanted.

The woman behind it - architect Sarah Griffiths.

However, the design did not go down well with the locals. There was a barrage of criticism from the neighbours.

So many so that Dick has created a collage of them in his downstairs toilet.

Pheasants is never going to truly fit into Henley but this is a couple who had a bold idea and were brave enough to see it through, creating a home that dared to be different.