Cliff-House Kent by Foster Lomas
Perched high on the Kentish Coast and commanding dramatic views across the English channel, the Cliff House poses an elegant solution to some very real constraints.
Southwark based Architects Foster Lomas were asked to design a low-cost, low-carbon building in an area prone to land slippage. With a steeply descending site falling quickly away from an exposed timber structure the design of the Cliff House is as dramatic as its Cliff-top setting.
The timber frame construction has allowed for a high level of insulation in the roof, walls and floor without being excessively thick and should guarantee a high level of air-tightness after construction. Coupled with an efficient heating system and some provision of renewable energy, this house has shown that it can easily achieve level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, as was required by the Local Authority.
In addition to this the client’s brief demanded unobstructed southerly views across the English Channel. To achieve this the design has needed to account for the potentially excessive solar gains in summer and high heat losses in winter through large areas of south facing glass.
eb7 were appointed environmental consultants to this project advising on daylighting, solar design, energy and sustainability.
Read more in the Architect’s Journal Cliff House, Kent.
It could be that the recession will be the catalyst for alternative thinking when it comes to energy use. Certainly, in the US corporate leaders are increasingly taking note of this issue with regard to natural light.
Between 20 and 50 percent of total energy consumed within homes and offices is due to lighting. In addition to this there are significant health benefits to having a well lit and ventilated building.
Mary Carroll, a senior project manager at Francis Cauffman Architect, claims that the next generation of buildings will have to address the size of the office floor plate. “If you’re trying to get more daylight to penetrate through the space, you’re going to have longer, narrower floor plates than maybe you would have had 10 years ago. Nobody does perimeter offices anymore because they want the light to come through.”
With the economy in its current state of flux, this initiative will certainly find its way factoring into analysts’ assessments of the overall soundness of companies and their operations.
More here.
Photo Credit Freshview
It adds little to the confidence of environmental professionals but when most MPs are unaware of zero carbon deadlines, what hope is there that the message is getting out to the wider public?
The government set the zero carbon target for all new homes by 2016 in July 2007 as part of its building a greener future policy statement. However the Comres report issued this week has shown that most (72%) of MP’s are unaware of the Government’s target for all new housing to be zero carbon by 2016, with a third incorrectly believing that the target doesn’t come into effect until 2020.
Indeed 15% were unaware that all new homes must receive a code level rating based on their sustainability – i.e. the Code for Sustainable Homes.
Nick Raynsford MP, Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sustainable Housing, which commissioned the research, said:
“The Government has set ambitious targets for sustainable housing in the UK, but it is clear that many concerned parties are still unaware of the all important details.”
Quite.
Photo Credit: **maurice**
Close to the environmental hub of the south west, Totnes, Dartington now offers a new sustainable school.
Utilizing wood fibre insulation u-values of between 0.17 and 0.2 W/m2K have been achieved. Also an average daylight factor of 4% creates good natural lighting. More here
