Chiswick Eco Lodge

Location: Chiswick, London
Completion Status: Completed August 2015	Occupancy: Occupied since April 2016
Architect: RDA Architects	Consultant: Structural Engineers: Micheal Hadi Associates; Certifier: Mead Energy & Architectural Design Ltd
Contractor: Belgravia Construction Ltd	Client: Private
Certification: August 2015	Certifier: MEAD
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Due to the sensitive location, a creative design was required to obtain planning permission. One of the major challenges was proving to the community and local council that the house would fit into its surroundings, a leafy Edwardian street. To overcome these issues RDA designed a sunken house, placing 60% of the buildings volume underground. This allowed RDA to satisfy the brief provided by the client whilst making the building appear smaller, therefore less prominent from street level. Sinking the house also created a private courtyard space for the 2 bedrooms on the lower level.

London stock brick slips were used on the ground floor to match the local vernacular and a living wall was created on the first floor to soften the buildings appearance. The intention being as the home ages and the plants mature, the plants will cause the first floor to disappear, further reducing the buildings prominence in its surrounding environment.

RDA have managed to create a unique urban Passivhaus. The house’s unashamedly modern interior is completed with exposed concrete walls, complementing the bespoke timber staircase and floors. The vast amounts of natural light brought into the house opens the space whilst the solar gain, achieved along with high levels of insulation, mean that minimal heating input is required. This house stands to prove that Passivhaus certification can be achieved on a tight budget and without compromising high quality bespoke design.

 

Further Information

RDA Architects

Project factfile

Summary Card

Focus on: The benefits of Passivhaus: 22 March 2017 - Build It Magazine

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Back to 2016 UK Passivhaus Awards shortlist

 

 

 

 

 

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