Tall and narrow, with a street frontage of just 3.5m, this design allows the high density land use that supports the wider sustainability agenda (including access to public transport, shops and services, and district heating systems) without compromising passive solar design. The result is not just a sustainable house, but a sustainable community.

Design

The architect has conceived several layout variations for its terrace of updated three or four storey town houses, with scenarios for live-work on the first floor, or semi-independent teenager children living on the upper floors. The house achieves zero carbon status with a combination of zero-energy heating, plus renewable energy generation via photovoltaics panels on the south facade. High insulation values are possible through packing the timber frame with hemp and woodfibre insualtion. The design also facilitates community life with shared allotments and a children’s play area in the “backlands” between terraces.

Technical

External timber shutters borrow a summer cooling strategy from Mediterranean countries
Stormwater sewers would be unnecessary, due to porous paving materials and creating garden“swales” or ditches to deal with storm run-off.
All materials would be recyclable, forming a closed-loop cycle,

Innovations

Internal walls lined with phase-change boards which absorb and store heat, then emit it into the room when the temperature falls

© British Homes Awards |  Site design: LW design