This design aims to reinterpret the elegance of the eighteenth and nineteenth century terraced house into a twenty first century environment. The design takes the traditional back garden and re-locates it on the roof. Using modern flat roofing technology and additional large balconies at alternate floor levels, a variety of outdoor spaces is created.

Modern demands on land are very high. This approach enables both a high development density of up to 95 dwellings per hectare, and the ability to produce a variety of strong public streets and residential squares without the need to cater for garden walls which can often detract from the street scene and become a concern for security. The design creates highly defensible spaces surveyed from the dwellings. The neighbouring footprint is flipped so that the terraced elevations provide alternate front doors and garage entrance along the street scene.

At ground level a dedicated home office space is provided with the ability to enlarge the window to a shop window style. A higher ground floor ceiling enables the opportunity for further adaptations. Disabled access starts at the front door with space in the lobby to charge a wheelchair.

The four storeys are connected by a central vertical circulation core which acts as a service route, with toilets and kitchens stacked on either side. A wheelchair accessible lift could be installed from day one to connect ground floor to the roof. A glazed photovoltaic roof lets daylight into the stairwell.

The first habitable room reached on the first floor is a kitchen/dining room with access to a large balcony overlooking the street. A utility room provides space for washing machines and additional storage. Three well proportioned single bedrooms are stacked to one side with ensuite bathrooms incorporating shower tubs to reduce water usage. Knock out panels enable side transfer to the toilet.

A lounge on the second floor overlooks the dining area below to allow visual connection between the spaces and create an open environment supported by a double height window letting daylight into the spaces. A master bedroom on the third floor has a private balcony overlooking the street and balcony below.

Code for Sustainable Homes - level 5 summary
Energy:
• Dwelling emission rate (DER) ĄV 2kWp solar photovoltaics (PV) and a micro-combined heat and power (CHP) system are proposed to achieve 100 per cent improvement of DER over target emission rate (TER)
• Renewables to achieve 15 per cent reduction in carbon emissions
• Fabric energy efficiency to be less than or equal to 48KWh/m2/year
• Energy display devices - displayed to occupants by a correctly specified energy display device
• Drying space - rotary drying line at roof level
• External lighting - burglar light fittings to be 150W with PIR and daylight cut-off sensors. Space lighting to be dedicated energy efficient light fittings
• Cycle storage ĄV for two cycles, provided in the ground floor garage
• Home office - dedicated room at ground floor.

Water
• Water saving dual flush WC, flow regulated shower and taps. Rain water harvesting system and grey water recycling to achieve internal portable water consumption to of less than 80 litres per person per day
• Water butt at roof garden level.

Materials
• All the elements to achieve minimum ĄĨA+ to DĄĶ ratings
• All timber used in the development will be legally sourced
• 80 per cent of materials used to achieve recognised certificates.

Surface water
• An allowance for climate change and sustainable urban drainage (SUDS) to be implemented
• Flood risk assessment to PPS25 Development.

Waste
• Internal and external bins will be provided for recycling waste
• Composting facilities for kitchen and brown waste to be provided
• Site waste management plan will be implemented.

Pollution
• Boiler NOx emissions less than or equal to ĄĨ40mg/kWhĄĶ. All insulating materials will have global warming potential of less than five.

Health
• Kitchen to achieve minimum 2 per cent daylight factor, Living, dining and study rooms to achieve minimum 1.5 per cent daylight factor and 80 per cent of area of kitchen, living, dining and study rooms to have view of the sky
• Sound insulation (party walls) - Achieving airborne sound insulation values of at least 5dB higher than Building Regulations
• Private garden space provided at roof terrace and balconies
• Dedicated space for permanent lift is provided.

Management
• Home user guide with non-technical details covering environmental features, local amenities and energy efficiency information to be provided to each dwelling
• Considerate Constructors Scheme certification
• Achieve the Secured by Design award.

© British Homes Awards |  Site design: LW design