THE HOME FOR ALL SEASONS

FLOODING

The flood risk management strategy in this scheme can be applied and adapted to suit the diverse range of flood risk contexts in upper, middle and lower catchment zones. For upper catchment areas (where the mantra of ‘Let rain Slow’ is recommended), both SuDs and swales can be incorporated into the layout of the development to help slow down & buffer the movement of water through the site. Flood water storage capacity is provided by permeable paving, storage crates, green roofs & minimal building footprints to ensure a large porous surface area for absorption of water into the ground plane. In mid and lower catchment zones (where the mantras of ‘Let rivers flow’ &  ‘Let tides go’ is recommended), the porous ground floor configuration provides unobstructed channels for the flow of water, avoiding backlogging & displacement of water to surrounding areas.

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OVERHEATING

To avoid the threat of overheating, this proposal incorporates a number of strategies. Firstly, the building is configured to be mixed mode, with its form design to provide shade during the summer months and use the stack effect to pull cool air from shaded ground floor zone. Secondly, the high thermal mass of the ground floor ‘garden room’ acts as a labyrinth, pre-cooling the air before it enters the living area on the first floor and moves up through the natural ventilation chimney stack (that incorporates a heat exchanger) on the roof ridge. Finally, adjustable horizontal louvers and solar thermal tubes provide shade to the glazed side façade, thereby minimising solar gain.

The design proposal embeds passive design principles and would seek to achieve Passivhaus standard with a space heating demand of up to 15kWh/m2 and a primary heat demand of up to 120kWh/m2a.Key to retaining a comfortable and consistent temperature inside the home during periods of extreme cold, the scheme includes:

·  Air tightness of <0.6 at 50Pa through thorough design and detailing

· Super insulated closed panel timber frame construction system with U-values of 0.15W/m2K

·  Triple glazed windows with insulated frames with  U value of 0.8W/m2K.

·  Heat recovery from exhaust air from bathrooms and kitchens.

EXTREME

COLD

The core house plan is easy to expand and adapt so that as families grow and populations continue to increase the residents can amend the building layout to suit their needs. This loose fit approach also provides flexibility in the house type, such that homes can be split into flats or extended over time and even space for growing food on site.

SOCIETAL

CHANGE

The building design incorporates long life, durable materials that require little maintenance and on the event of failure are easily repairable. The dwellings are designed to require minimal maintenance; they will age naturally and retain their distinctive appearance over many years. Detailing and in particular the movement of water over the dwelling has been considered and integrated from the outset. The costs associated with recovery after a flood event have also been considered, with the resilient ground floor zone reducing the need for expensive insurance claims or reconstruction.

ENERGY &

LIFECYCLE

COSTS

Achieving resilience does not have to come at the detriment of good design. It can instead be used as a mechanism to actively enhance the quality of placemaking in communities. The house design in the 'Home for All Seasons’ scheme not only provides resilient strategy but also creates attractive and safe public realm. Compact plot layouts are complemented by generous street dimensions, with green space used as an active ingredient in the flood risk management strategy (SuDs, swales) whilst providing both shade and cooling. This scheme looks to encourage a change in how risk is perceived,  making living with uncertainty a more enriching and positive experience.

HIGH QUALITY

PLACE-MAKING IN MIND