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Always featuring numerous articles on a wide range of eco-building projects from all around the UK, most of which are written by the very people that designed or built them. It is the ideal read for architects, builders, developers, self builders and anyone interested in eco-building, including interested homeowners/clients.
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Planning permission granted for eco country house |
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19 Jul 2012, 8:29 PM
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Planning permission has been granted for a 500m2 country house on a greenfield site in Easton, Suffolk. The Coastal District Council approved a contemporary design inspired by a curving natural form.
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The design by Jerry Tate Architects integrates the building and landscape in both form and function. The form of the house is inspired by the shape and structure of a sycamore seed, and the building interacts with the proposed surrounding parkland to achieve self-sufficiency in terms of energy, water and food. This functionality is a traditional part of county house design, reinterpreted for 21st Century requirements.
The Design and Conservation Officer of Suffolk Coastal District Council commented: “The proposal is a truly outstanding and innovative design that clearly reflects the highest standards in architecture. …. the District’s tradition of vernacular housing is being continued but using a new language and I strongly support this. The C21st should have its own form of architectural expression.”
Known for their approach of bringing together architecture and nature, the architects derived the house’s lamella timber gridshell design from the form of a sycamore seed. Through its natural curves and grid, the design will generate a building that blends into the surrounding natural environment.
The scale of the proposed building is reduced significantly by setting the accommodation into the existing site contours, with only the south and west elevations revealing the full seven metres height of the façade. The remaining elevations will be concealed by earth bunds planted with greenery and a wildflower meadow. The internal scale of the house will vary dramatically from a full height entrance hallway, to the smaller utility areas at the north of the property which will almost entirely be concealed.
The proposed landscape, designed in collaboration with Luke Greysmith, uses the principles of ‘Permaculture’, a method for designing ecosystems which, alongside the proposed residential development, will enhance the ecology of the site. Jerry Tate Architects will introduce elements within an ‘eco-intelligent’ landscape such as energy production, water treatment, food production, waste treatment and increased bio-diversity to use and re-use resources efficiently.
The intention for the ‘Permaculture’ design was to work the proposed building envelope into the existing eco-system so that the current ecology is enriched by the new house. The project will start on site in Spring 2013.
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| Positive review of this story |
cat  |
21 Jul 2012, 4:54 AM |
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Good work, expacting energy, water and food all come into one part of our dwelling, sound quite ECO. How many years does it take?
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