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The house, formerly a run-down 1950s bungalow, sits on an elevated area in the South Downs National Park, with a lush wooded backdrop.
Facing wide views over the South and West Downs, the main façade of the house is deliberately formal, with a two-storey rammed concrete colonnade providing a rhythmic Classical facade.
Behind it, a deep loggia provides shade to the interior, and in front is a loose stepped arrangement of rooms.
A palette of water-washed brick materials of lime mortar, tamped and precast concrete was chosen to reflect the tones and textures of the area’s local sandstone. A wildflower meadow roof further softens the house’s silhouette.
The house generates surplus electricity through on-site renewable energy in the form of a large rooftop photovoltaic array, while space heating and hot water are provided by an air source heat pump, and ventilation is provided by an MVHR system.
architect’s perspective
Like many designs, the building incorporates an eclectic range of historical and contemporary ideas and references.
The south-facing colonnade of the main facade and its supporting double loggias not only provide a formal presence within the landscape of a traditional park house, but also provide passive shading for the generous windows overlooking the southern hills. In both respects it echoes Serge Chermayeff’s 1936 house in Bentley Wood, Sussex, and has a different scale and character to the rear entryway, which is attenuated in form and scale.
Behind the splayed colonnade, staggered plans draw inspiration from the stepped layout of Tham & Videgård’s archipelago homes. The opening between the colonnade and the wall subtly reorients the interior towards the main view, while opening up the dual aspects and providing exterior space protected from the prevailing south-westerly winds.
The large columns of the colonnade benefit from Stephen Taylor’s Shatterwell Cowshed. Their color is derived from the local Fittleworth stone, which has historically been used as the main building material in the area and was quarried just a few miles from the site. Although it is no longer available as a building stone, we have used it as aggregate in dry, unreinforced, low-cement mixes. A large number of samples were tested for strength and appearance before being hand tamped on site in a small lift to provide original textural contrast to the clear precast fascia and lintels.
Sandy Rendel, Director, Sandy Rendel Architects
Source: Sandy Rendell Architects
Project data
Live start May 2018
Completion Date April 2023
Total internal floor area 582m2 (all); 459m2 (main house); 50 meters2 (appendix); 73m2 (garage and shop)
Contract/Procurement Form Phase 1: JCT MWD 2016 (Foundation and Frame); Phase 2: Client directly engages subcontractors
construction cost Undisclosed
architect Sandy Rendell Architects
client private
structural engineer Structural workshop
Mechanical and electrical consultant Invicta Clean Energy (ASHP and Photovoltaic Design)/Built Environment Technology (MVHR)
Accredited Building Inspector MC PLANNING AND FIELD SERVICES LIMITED.
CAD software used vector artwork
environmental performance data
Estimated on-site renewable energy generation 13,700kWh/year (15.87kWp)
Annual actual electricity consumption -13.4kWh/m22/year (supervision)
Estimated drinking water consumption 125 liters per person per day
50pa air tightness 1.46m3/hm2
annual carbon dioxide emissions -6.73KgCO22Equivalent/meter2
Area Weighted U-Value 0.27W/m2K
SAP/EPC Rating EPC A (110)
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