allan . curran . architects

Our clients purchased a site on which we had achieved planning permission some years ago for a previous client which included a replacement dwelling and the conversion of an old mill and outbuildings into two apartments. The new client’s initial brief was to provide costing’s and designs for converting the mill and outbuildings into one dwelling. Unfortunately the costs associated with the conversion added to the problem of convincing Building Control that the existing foundations were adequate led to a new brief for a new build that was to be extremely energy efficient but to make the most of what was a lakeside site. The site was further blessed with a stream along one boundary and mature trees to the rear to act as a backdrop.

The resultant house used a narrow gable dimension and stepped floors to replace the existing outbuildings which had to be demolished to make way for the new house. The mill was retained to be refurbished and used as a garage, storage, and a music room. The glazing was concentrated on the southern elevations and was angled to pick up the good views of the lake.

The house was designed with Passive House certification in mind, a strategic fenestration arrangement, high level of insulation, triple glazing, heat pump with the stream as a collector and photovoltaic cells on the mill roof were combined with an air permeability expectation of less than 1.0 m3/(h.m2).