14 January 2014

Passivhaus for Shropshire!


On the basis of our successful granting of planning consent to build an underground house in the Bowdon Conservation Area in Cheshire, called Perdu, NC Homes Architects have been commissioned to design a new earth sheltered passivhaus in the open countryside of Shropshire.  Situated against two English Heritage Scheduled Ancient Monuments, an Iron Age hill fort and a protected series of caves, the proposals sensitively and respectfully respond to its context and adopt an organic form that follows the hillside topography and merges effortlessly into its agricultural landscape setting.  The concept design derives from the ancient ‘rampart’ form of the hill fort, that intuitively combines grass roof and clerestory windows, concealing the dwelling from visual receptors from outside whilst flooding the space with light and ventilation inside.  The dwelling will need to comply with producing zero carbon emissions, introducing leading technologies and materials into the fabric and construction methodology of the design, to ensure that it has no negative impact on the environment. 

Follow our website to see the progress on this and all our other exciting projects in the year to come!