The intention has been to provide a modern dual aspect townhouse. The design has focused on the three most important aspects of any home: typology, flexibility and sustainability.

The designers believe these three aspects are key to any successful development. It is clear that the first two are what has made the traditional townhouse so successful. And if you take into account the life-cycle of the townhouse you could also argue that they are sustainable, despite not having any environmental technology to support them.

Typology: “We learn by standing on the shoulders of giants”

As with all great ideas, they are typically only an improvement upon all ready very good idea. The designers have carefully critiqued the desirable townhouse to establish what it is that has made these homes so successful. They believe they can demonstrate this influence in the progression of the townhouse typology. They have demonstrated through their concept what interventions are required to bring about this change. They have coupled these key features with the design drivers of today’s society; working from home, transportation, sustainability, modern materials and technologies, current legislation and their thoughts on what makes a home a home.

The designers believe one of the key features to any development is to bring the outside in. The advantage of this is the sense of the dwelling both fitting appropriately into its environment and giving the impression space is larger than it is. This is achieved through multiple large terraces, level thresholds and appropriate use of glass.

The modern townhouse will maintain all the positive architectural language that the traditional townhouse has: rhythm, elegance, simplicity, uniformity, large floor to ceilings, large amounts of glazing and daylight, the public/semi public and private boundaries and robust materials.

The designers have also demonstrated how the new townhouse addresses all the issues that the traditional townhouse failed to deal with, such as; overlooking, parking, public green spaces, future growth, Disability Discrimination Act compliance and sustainability.

The designers have matched the current density of traditional town housing with their own design. They believe their wider housing fronts and off street parking will create less pressure on the road and stimulate more opportunity for urban parks, traffic calming and social places to gather. It also gives the owner more external space for the same area of plot.

The designers also believe that the module size and massing lends itself to the nature of the FutureForm system. It would be easy to envisage a kit parts being added.

Flexibility

The traditional townhouse has survived so long because it has become more than a home. The designers therefore thought it important to show how the design will allow the homeowner to extend and adapt it to suit changing needs.

A rigid design would not allow for future flexibility. Any design based on orientation for energy gains would fail. Any design with sustainable technologies integrated into the main skin would fail. Any structure or technology made too complex for the homeowner to adjust would fail.

The designers have created a simple building with plug-in technologies, that are non-orientation dependent. The external skin is robust and basic. The FutureForm system is made to work like a kit of parts, and in a way that complements the typology, and does not change it.

Sustainability

All technologies selected are flexible. As the occupancy and use of the building adapts so can the technology location and size to meet demand:
1. An air source heat pump (ASHP) will help meet demand for space heating (distributed under the floor) and hot water. A unit is situated in the terrace area with plant in the basement.
2. There are 4m2 of solar hot water panels. This will help provide 50 per cent of hot water annually and will take some pressure off of the ASHP.
3. Electricity required for the ASHP plus regulated electricity (lights, pumps, fans, etc) will be provided in part by a 16 m2 photovoltaic array above the brick volume. This delivers approximately10.6 kg CO2/m2/year. This is below the Zero Carbon Hub’s compliance level of 11 kg CO2/m2/year. This would be met by off-site allowable solutions.
4. Use of mechanical vent with heat recovery is proposed. This would dramatically reduce space heating demand (by approximately 50 per cent) thereby helping to meet and better the requirements for the Code for Sustainable Homes level 5 target. A Passivhaus strategy is adopted for the design of the envelope.
5. Triple glazed windows are proposed. This allows large amounts of glazing to be used without having to worry so much about heat gains or losses. Louvres have been attached to give privacy to vulnerable spaces.
6. The skin of the larger building volume is a brick slip cladding, which help to reduce carbon footprint and maintain a robust finish.
7. The floating box over the carport will be a pre-oxidized bonded copper. The copper is bonded to an acrylic giving it rigidity and a better quality of finish. The material is long lasting and complements the timber and brick.
8. Under the courtyard terrace will be a tank for rainwater and shower water storage and treatment.

© British Homes Awards |  Site design: LW design