The proposal provides homes for 74 families and commercial space for two to four local businesses. The impact of these uses over the lifetime of the building was considered in detail with the objective of minimising energy use whilst maximising the quality of the living and working environment.
Stockwool worked closely with the consultant team to develop an exemplar scheme which addresses key targets in relation to energy efficiency and also encompasses a holistic approach focused on delivering the best quality living environment for the residents.
MINIMISING DEMAND FOR OPERATIONAL CARBON
The strategy was developed with reference to the LETI Climate Emergency Design Guide. Some of the key aspects are summarised below:
Space heating requirements are expected to be in the range of 15-20 kWh/m2/yr, with the overall energy consumption at around 35-45 kWh/m2/yr. This is close to Passivhaus targets and is in line with the RIBA Climate Challenge Targets for 2030.
DESIGN FOR HEALTH & WELLBEING
The building has been designed to encourage and facilitate a healthy lifestyle. The design seeks to maximise the residents’ control of their environment and includes the following design measures.
THERMAL COMFORT: the benefits of an airtight, well-insulated building envelope, with high-performance glazing will increase thermal comfort for residents, eliminating draughts and providing an even temperature throughout.
IMPROVED AIR QUALITY: the installation of MVHR ensures a constant supply of filtered, fresh air whilst recovering heat (in winter) from the exhaust air. The improved air quality has huge benefits for asthma and allergy sufferers in the colder months especially.
NATURAL VENTILATION: Living areas facing the street are provided with night vents for summer cooling. The majority of the balconies are provided with protected outdoor drying facilities.
NATURAL LIGHT: the envelope of the building has been designed to maximise natural light whilst minimising the potential for overheating. Working closely with the project team and using our CAD model, the proportion of glazing, its specification and level of shading was tested in great detail to achieve the best possible balance.
FACILITIES FOR CYCLISTS: High-quality cycle storage facilities are provided for all residents. The spaces are located in a prominent location at the entrance to the building, are naturally lit and an integral part of the building entry sequence. A cycle repair station is proposed and car club spaces are provided along with electric car charging facilities.
URBAN GREENING: The development has been designed to maximise urban greening. As well as the formal communal planting, the balcony spaces are designed to encourage residents to grow plants and vegetables. There are two communal amenity spaces which are designed as sun spaces, providing an ideal environment for the cultivation of plants and vegetables.
ADAPTABILITY: flat layouts have been designed to provide longterm flexibility. We developed two of the flat types to demonstrate how they could be used throughout the lifetime of the occupants, allowing for internal adaptations to suit changing needs. This included future provision of ensuite facilities, shower rooms, separate kitchens and an office / study space. Working with the structural engineer we avoided columns within these flats to maximise flexibility. In addition, 10% of the flats are designed to meet the specific needs of wheelchairs users.
Project: London Road, North Cheam
