It’s not all doom and gloom for the UK property market: in the face of the country’s slowing or depreciating prices, Sarah Featherstone’s cutting-edge green home has sold for a record-breaking £7.2million, or $14.2million USD! The building, known as Orchid House, is one of the key homes on Lower Mill Estate, a project to turn a disused gravel pit into a beautiful 450-acre nature reserve.

英国房地产市场并非一片萧条，面对全国的价格低迷，Sarah Featherstone的先锋绿屋售出创记录的7百20万英镑，或1千4百20万美元！这座名为Orchid House的建筑是Lower Mill Estate工程中几处关键性建筑之一。该工程目标是要将一处废弃的砾石坑改造成为450英亩的美丽自然保护区。

Possibly to subsidize the £3,000 per square foot cost of the property, the building aims to generate more energy than it consumes, making use of geothermal heating. The house can be adapted to any occasion, be it a family holiday or a large reception, due to its flexible living spaces.

该建筑也许每平方英尺耗资3，000 英镑，它的目标是通过使用地热，使产生的能量高于消耗的能量。这房子的居住面积灵活可变，适合于任何场合，无论是家庭度假还是举办大型招待会。

The inspiration for the form comes from the flora and fauna on the estate, with living and dining areas appearing to fan out from the building’s core. The main living spaces join the home’s pontoon to float over the lake.

该建筑设计灵感来源于当地花卉与动物，活动与用餐区域从建筑中央呈扇形扩张开来。主要活动区与家庭码头相连，漂浮在湖面上。

The buyer chose to remain anonymous, but rumor has it they work in the entertainment industry – and may well be a household name, going by the celebrities such as Brad Pitt and Kylie Minogue who’ve expressed an interest so far. We may have to wait until 2011 to find out though – this is when the house will be completed and become home to the mystery buyer.

购买者要求姓名保密，但是谣传说为娱乐业中人，很可能是家喻户晓的人物，例如布拉德皮特和Kylie Minogue这样有名的人表示了购买兴趣。我们也许要等到2011年才能知道究竟，因为那时房子才能完工，成为神秘买主的家。

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