CSA Architects

Exemplar Eco House, Mylor

csa were instructed todesign  high quality, innovative replacement dwelling with a detailed client design brief. The aim was to create an exemplar 'carbon negative' eco home, to suite the clients current and futue needs, whilst minimising visual and physical impact on this sensitive site, being situated in the heart of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The development was designed to address the specific characteristics of the site and inspired by its contxt, of grass meadows, hedgerows and trees. As such it utilises materials, such as intensive green roofs, with wild flowers, as well as timber cladding and timber relief structures, to control solar gain. The building was split into two rectilinear blocks to maximise the opportunity for solar gain; beingorientated due south. The scheme also incorporates solar PV, solar thermal hot water system, mechanical heat recovery, rainwater harvesting and passive ventilation; as well as a comrehensive ground source, underfloor heating system throughout. The scheme easilly achieved Code Level 5, and demonstrated a carbon negative status on the complted SAP assessment. Due to the exemplar environmental and low impact design, the scheme achieved planning consent very quickly and is due to start construction on site in early 2010.