DESIGNS FOR ECOHOMES

Crescent House

A crescent-shaped wintergarden is at the heart of this house, creating interesting internal curves and cross-views. The main entrance could be placed at either end of the house, and by reversing the plan, two houses become a semi-detached pair. The traditional roof void makes way for a conservatory shaded with PV panels and a roof garden.

Design:

Cedar shingles are an unusual but sustainble choice for the roof covering, which also wraps down over the elevations. The grey cedar contrasts strongly with the second main construction material: the triple glazing found in window wall to the wintergarden, the windows themselves, and the pithed rooflights to the second floor. The wintergarden is at the heart of a passive heating and ventilation strategy, where warmth from solar gain would dramaticaly reduce the need for space heating (which would be sustainably provided by a ground source heat pump system. ) The frame is built from timber Structural Insulated Panels, with additional linings to the internal floors and walls to add thermal mass. The accommodation could be split into a ground-floor flat and maisonette above, or a semi-independent flat or bedsit could be created on the second floor.

Technical:

Clay plaster render or concrete blocks could be used internally to add thermal mass
30 m sqm of PV panels plus a 10 sqm array of soral thermal tubes could achieve zero carbon heating and hot water provision
Collected rainwater is stored in two vertical tanks

Innovation:

The wintergarden acts as circulation space and heat store as well as creating an innovative layout