Project Brief
Type: Residential
Area (m2): 213
Budget: £1.46 million
Features: Wildflower Green Roof, GSHP, MVHR, Triple Glazing masonry construction.
The house was designed to improve the view from the neighbouring properties so that they benefit from coastal views over a beautiful wildflower green roof which hides the solar panels and roof tops of neighbouring houses below. The house also needed to provide better privacy to the neighbouring houses above and below and reduce noise from the public house behind. A large rear covered terrace was designed to minimise and direct sound away from the building, an acoustic sleeper wall was designed within the garden to attenuate noise. The wonderful views of Pentire Point, island and the sea was also a key factor within the design, which certainly maximises these views. The wildflower car port at the front ensures cars parked within the driveway are hidden from the sea views and the wildflowers also help to screen the properties opposite. Careful consideration of window locations and sun screening ensures the building does not overheat and cross and stack ventilation were designed in to ensure that the sea breezes cool the building. The building fabric exceeds passive house u-values being constructed with a 300mm full fill cavity construction combined with steelwork, posi joists and beam and block,
which ensures airtight construction and robustness. The material palette is very simple using shou sugi ban charred cladding externally, together with wildflowers; the black cladding really sets off the roofs. Internally and externally ceilings/soffits are western red cedar flowing seamlessly inside to out. The floors are a mix of ceramic and terrazzo tiles. The main living area, master bedroom, en-suite, terrace and garden were all designed for a wheelchair user and the best views from a seating height. The building is heated with a ground source heat pump via underfloor heating, which also provides the hot wa
ter. A whole house ventilation system (MVHR) provide a constant healthy environment moderating moisture, recovering heat and bringing in the clean sea air. Triple glazed windows and doors ensure that the building has good sound proofing from the nearby public house, whilst providing excellent u-values minimising energy loss. A 6kW solar panel system with battery storage is due to be installed in the coming weeks which will make this already low energy building even better!