House in a Field
Architecture Residential England, United Kingdom Of Great Britain And Northern Ireland
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Description
This replacement dwelling sought to emulate the historic workers cottages which had fallen into dereliction on the site while also better integrating into its present day setting of open farmland. A large masonry gable and through wall anchored the house and increased localise definition within the site as it did with the workers cottages but the remainder of the house used a portal frame construction mirroring the barns of neighbouring farms. Shou sugi ban was combined with Sinusoidal metal roofing to mimic the rural vernacular palette while maximising sustainability. A small entry wing and utility was added to the front of the house to define the two storey element and visually signpost the entrance.
Sustainable Measures
Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP)
Natural sustainable materials and reused materials
Environmental construction policy to minimise chemical use and construction waste
Passive solar gain regulation/orientation studies undertaken during design
Electric car charging and allocated space for future battery installation
Minimal internal structure to allow future alteration
High insulation levels (low U and Y values)
Biodiverse landscaping used
Questions and Answers
Inspiration behind the design of House in a Field
There were 2 derelict Victorian farm workers' cottages on the site when our clients first bought it. One of which was itself a rebuild of an earlier stone cottage still evident in its gable wall which beautifully contrasted the 'newer' brick cottages. We were desperate not to lose the historic narrative of the site so we retained the gable in the proposed form but sought to celebrate the evolved site location which had become much more rural than when the now derelict cottages had been built. An agricultural form was envisaged, standing monolithically in contrast to the land around it.
Challenges faced during the construction of House in a Field
The site was immediately adjacent to the Kennet and Avon Canal and sat just 15cm above the water table renovation of the historic land drainage was needed to dry areas of the site to allow us to build.
Integration of sustainable measures in the design and construction of House in a Field
Being a remote dwelling we incorporated a wealth of sustainable measures including home working, heat pumps, EV,PV, low carbon, and toxicity materials with maximum onsite reuse, lean construction, bio-diversification, rewilding etc
The significance of emulating historic workers cottages in modern architecture
Replacement dwellings often starts as bland statements entirely remote from the site and its history and take years to become as important as the site before they were created. We seek always to keep as much of the narrative identity as possible both man made and natural
The role of biodiverse landscaping in enhancing the house's sustainability
Every new house should improve its site, harmonising the house and its setting allows not only co-habitation but encouragement for species which have previously been compromised by housebuilding.
Details
| Completion date | 2022 |
| Building levels | 2 |
Project team
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Artel31 | Principal designer and contractor |
|
Giraffe Engineering | Structural Engineers |
| Ellendale Environmental | Environmental Consultant |