MeadwayBerkhamsted, Hertfordshire
A new distinctive dwelling in Berkhamsted, inspired by the traditional English walled garden. In this case the garden walls become the house walls creating a simple u-shaped courtyard form which offers high levels of privacy. The predominantly single-storey innovative design has minimal impact against the skyline and green roofs ensure that views from upper floors of adjoining properties are not adversely affected.
Reclaimed bricks form the external walls with lime mortar and a lime face wash to soften and mute the brick colour. Reconstituted stone features refine the elevations and form sharp, deep reveals to the large timber-framed glazing. The external walls are intended to mimic traditional garden walls and will form the backdrop to the landscaping strategy.
The house makes use of carbon reducing energy strategies by using six existing boreholes to provide renewable heating and cooling via a ground source heat exchange system. The energy required to drive the GSHE is provided by a PV array mounted on the south facing pitch of the garage roof and a battery storage unit will capture, and store excess energy produced. The green roofs also increase biodiversity and contribute to attenuating surface water runoff.
Project Name: Meadway
Location: Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire
Gross Floor Area (House): 664 m2
Project Credits
Architect: Kirkland Fraser Moor Architects
Client: Private
Contractor: Steve Wright Builders
Structural Engineer: Stefan Abramian
Landscape Architect: Bowles & Wyre
Building Services: BSEC
Low-Carbon Energy Systems: Aura
Electrical Engineer: Aura
Quantity Surveyors: PCP Surveyors
Building Inspectors: Stroma
Photography: Edmund Sumner