The site is located at the rear of a Victorian coach house, within a Conservation Area.  The development massing was restricted by planning to a single storey development, so a large underground component was required to meet the brief.

The design approach utilises an 'upside down' building layout, where bedrooms are located within the basement level, and living spaces on the ground floor with views over the large rear garden.  The basement bedrooms wrap lower level courtyards, which provide daylight, ventilation and aspect. The south-facing basement courtyard to the master and second bedrooms also creates a very sunny amenity for these rooms.

The house integrates a number of passive and active sustainable approaches, including:

• Passive solar gain

• MVHR ventilation system

• Responsive solar shading

• Photovoltaic array

• Rainwater harvesting

• Low energy lighting and appliances

• Green sedum roof

 

Internally, the simple construction palette of brick concrete and stone, has been exposed where possible to create a 'loft' feel, aimed at challenging the perception of being underground, as well as providing a robust, hard-wearing family home.