MorcottMorcott, Rutland
The site is in located in Morcott, approximately 7 miles north of Corby and lies within the ‘Morcott Conservation Area’ which contains many listed historic structures.
Designs were submitted to planning under the NPPF Paragraph 80 policy which makes certain exceptions for ‘designs of exceptional quality’. The application was supported by the planning department but rejected by the local planning committee. Permission was eventually granted following an appeal. The inspector agreed that the location was unsuitability for a Paragraph 80 development but accepted it under Paragraph 134 which contains many similar aspirations for promoting ‘outstanding or innovative designs which promote high levels of sustainability or help raise the standard of design more generally in an area.’
To minimise potential harmful visual impact from the rural long views the proposed dwelling has been situated to the back of the available land area. The location and overall form ensure that the best parts of the architecture are visible to public view and can be enjoyed from outside the site and along the public footpaths. This is a particular aspiration of the Para 80 policy.
The location and position of the new dwelling is strategically set to work with the strong influence and character of the existing downward sloping terrain to the north and the tightly bounded site edges. This defines a strong enclosing character within which the new dwelling and domestic curtilage sets itself. The dwelling roof is fully planted domestic area set at the same level as existing ground level. The building is thus not visible from within the village.
The position and U-shaped building form allows for perfect solar orientation to give morning sunlight to the southern courtyard onto which the bedroom areas face and good afternoon/evening light to the western façades within which the main living spaces are located. The sunken courtyard form allows for a ‘double aspect’ of solar gain and daylight ensuring that all areas of the house footprint get access to daylight at all times of the day. The annex accommodation is located at the edge of the proposed new wetland area providing eye-level relationships with the anticipated flora and fauna.
The proposals have been modeled on the courtyard house type. Designing the new dwelling around a central sunken courtyard is a key driver of the spatial planning strategy as this greatly protects the long-view visual impact from unsightly domestic paraphernalia whilst ensuing the occupant’s lifestyle remains unrestricted.
The building form acts like a large Ha Ha wall set within the landscape. Rather than focusing on the architectural vernacular of Morcott village the design aesthetic mimics the stone walls that run along every road stitching and creating the spatial quality.
The deep eastern and western patios provide sheltered amenity that also create shadow to suppress glazing and light spill out into the long views.
The building will be constructed to Passivhaus standards. To further reduce the embodied carbon content the external walls are constructed from waste brick and rubble stone from local quarries. Modern construction methods generally exclude areas suitable for bird and bat habitations and these walls will include large areas for local wildlife and flora to inhabit over time. To further increase the potential for this a tall chimney like feature will act as a bird and bat habitation.
Project Name: Morcott
Location: Morcott, Rutland
Gross Floor Area (House): 549 m2
Environmental Rating: Passivhaus Standard
Project Credits
Architect: Kirkland Fraser Moor Architects
Client: Private
Planning Consultant: Rural Solutions
Landscape Architect: Landscape Agency
Ecology: Green Ecology