THESE before-and-after photos show how a rundown bungalow has been transformed into an ultra-modern gravity-defying home.

Pennie and Charles Denton, both aged in their 70s, bought the dilapidated property for under £400,000 in 2013 and hired architects to design a retirement home with a difference.

They came up with an exciting design that makes the most of the views and varying levels in the sloping site, and is up for awards.

The former three-bed bungalow on the site near Swanage, Dorset, was believed to have been built in 1917 and was a pre-fab building which had become quite rundown.

Mr Denton, a retired BBC TV producer and executive and his author wife spent about £750,000 transforming it over 14 months.

Architect Magnus Ström worked closely with structural engineers to create the design, which works by having the concrete roof and floor joined together by internal walls, creating one solid structure, as well as a counterweight at the other end to weigh the building down.

The new house, called The Quest, is still all on one level with a large open-plan kitchen,dining and living room, three bedrooms, a dressing room, entrance and utility room and two studies.

The cantilevered section extends about 21ft out beyond the retaining wall and the gap underneath that section to park is about 8ft high and means they can enjoy unspoilt views across Durlston Country Park without a car getting in the way.

The flat-roofed property has now been shortlisted for several design awards - the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) south-west awards.

Emma Ward-Lambert, from Ström Architects of Lymington, said: "The clients are both interested in modern art and were willing to do something more unusual. It's definitely not your typical retirement home.

"They had lived down the hill from this site and looked up at this old bungalow so when they had the opportunity to buy it they jumped at it.

"The old bungalow was in quite a state and there wasn't much they could do in terms of restoring it.

"They were relatively flexible about what they wanted but needed something easy to maintain and preferably all on one level.

"We always make sure we have a strong relationship with our structural engineers so after Magnus had the initial idea of the cantilevered section he worked with the engineers to figure out how to do it without having a great big post underneath.

"It is basically an exposed concrete slab for the floor and roof and there are concrete walls internally that join the floor and roof together meaning the whole building acts as one.

"There's also a counterweight on the end on the ground, a bit like putting an adult on a see-saw, which helps weigh it down.

"The owners were really chuffed. One of the things they have found since living there is the difference it makes to have space you can disappear off to and not getting that feeling of cabin fever.

"After 40 years of marriage they said commissioning the house was the best decision they ever made.

"They hope it will continue to cater for their needs as they get older as it is all on one level and allows them to enjoy time with their children and grandchildren."