Beyond the Floorplan: A Clear Path to Your Forever Home
By Roger Borland
What if your home could become the most treasured place your grandchildren ever knew-not because it's flashy, but because it's right?
In Beyond the Floorplan, renowned architect Roger Borland shares a fresh and practical guide to designing homes that last-not just structurally, but emotionally, functionally, and environmentally. Drawing on over two decades of lived experience, client stories, and tested systems, this book reveals what truly makes a family home exceptional.
Most modern homes underperform. They overheat in summer, freeze in winter, trap stale air, and cost a fortune to run. They may be built fast, but they're not built to last. Beyond the Floorplan invites you to rethink what truly matters-offering clarity, confidence, and guidance at every step of the design journey.
This book is your blueprint for a healthy, high-performance, energy-efficient home that supports your wellbeing now and into the future.
Whether you're planning a custom build, a sustainable knockdown-rebuild, or a small home that does more with less, you'll learn how to:
✅ Avoid the hidden traps of underperforming layouts
✅ Understand the six fundamental design principles used in every legacy home
✅ Embrace Passive House principles to create energy-efficient, comfortable spaces
✅ Prioritise health and wellbeing with better air quality, light, acoustics, and thermal control
✅ Design a sustainable family home that reflects your values, lifestyle, and future needs
✅ Future-proof your investment by choosing low-carbon materials, intelligent systems, and flexible layouts
✅ Work effectively with your architect or builder, armed with the right questions and a clear framework
✅ Create a home that performs beautifully-without relying on costly "smart" gadgets or marketing gimmicks
This is not just a book about architecture. It's a book about making good decisions-and understanding the lifelong ripple effect your home will have on your health, finances, family, and legacy.
Written in a clear, friendly tone by a respected voice in sustainable architecture, Beyond the Floorplan breaks down complex ideas into accessible insights. It doesn't just show you what to design-it helps you understand why certain decisions matter more than others.
Whether you're building your first home, refining plans with a designer, or simply dreaming of something better, this book will become your trusted guide. You'll see how real families are creating healthy homes, eco-friendly houses, and forever homes that work for life-not just for now.
Because your home shouldn't just look good on move-in day.
It should work-quietly, beautifully, and sustainably-for decades.
About the Author
Roger Borland is an Irish-born, British-educated architect and founder of Borland Architecture. With over two decades of experience in high-performance residential design, Roger is a passionate advocate for raising the standard of family home design. His work guides clients and influences the industry with a strong focus on sustainability, wellbeing, and long-term value.
