A scheme of three truly low-energy dwelling houses on a brownfield site in Hamilton (site of an old nursery) that have now achieved Passivhaus Certification in 2022.

The site borders the edge of Chatelherault Country Park, and features a beautiful rural outlook to the south and south-west. All of the houses have also been designed to meet the Gold level in Section 7 'Sustainability' of the Technical Standards.

Consequently the houses are arranged around a central roundabout and are orientated with the garden elevation facing as close to due south as possible in order to maximise natural solar gains, and benefit from views to the landscape and trees beyond the site.

Careful positioning of windows creates a feeling of privacy within each dwelling, whilst maximising the orientation and aspect. On several gable elevations a contemporary interpretation of the traditional bay window does exactly that, and creates a private space within a bedroom for reading or contemplation.

Each 4 bedroom property has been designed to maximise flexibility of layout; an over-sized sliding wall can create a more intimate snug-style space when required, separate from the remainder of the large open-plan family orientated living, kitchen and dining areas. Double height spaces over the main sitting area and circulation maximise the connection between both storeys, and large areas of south facing glazing blur the boundary between inside and out. Carefully positioned brise soleil protect the interior spaces from overheating when the sun is at its highest; this strategy is supplemented by the high levels of insulation and airtightness demanded by high quality residential buildings that meet the passivhaus standards.

The buildings are clad in a limited palette of materials that reflect the local context, with an up to date twist: a slate tile roof and wall cladding to the upper floor are complemented by some areas of timber cladding on the ground floor.

Passivhaus Certifier: Warm

Engineer: Roy Easton & Co. in conjunction with Future Space Structures

Internal Photos: Forever Timeless Photography