25 June 2020

Why is solar orientation in buildings important? In the UK and the northern hemisphere, the majority of our solar gain comes from the south. Orientating buildings to take advantage of this, along with optimising glazing to the south elevation, can help to passively heat our homes to achieve a net energy gain. Excessive glazing leads to overheating, especially on east / west elevations when the sun enters the building at a low angle in the mornings / evenings respectively.

External shading is the best way to block out unwanted solar gain. Internal shading is often unhelpful, as the heat has already entered the building. Planting trees / foliage can create natural forms of external shading. Deciduous varieties in particular can be helpful, where leaves are present in the warmer months to provide shading, while shedding leaves in the colder months allows the sun to penetrate through. They can also create beautiful shadowy patterns on internal walls.

Passive solar design is one aspect of ecological building design that we specialise in. Talk to us about how we can help optimise your building project to make the most of natural resources.

18 June 2020

We’re thrilled to be starting a new project in collaboration with Cosy Homes Oxfordshire. The mid-terrace property in Oxford is in need of a complete refurbishment. Built in the 1900s, external walls are of a solid masonry construction, while the mock sash windows (not original) are old and poorly fitted. This has resulted in a building fabric that performs very poorly, both thermally and acoustically. Noise from the busy road and neighbouring properties are particular issues.

Our client decided that whilst completing these renovation works, it would make sense to carry out some low energy retrofit measures at the same time. Given the relationship with adjacent attached properties, the roof eaves detail, and being within a conservation area, internal wall insulation is the obvious measure to take. The old building fabric will likely result in the use of a natural and breathable insulation, while appropriate ventilation will also need to be carefully considered.

Talk to us if you’re considering a retrofit project alongside more substantial alterations to your home. Or to register your home for a ‘Whole House Plan’, get in touch with Cosy Homes Oxfordshire.

11 June 2020

We’re proud to announce that we’ve become a member of RetrofitWorks, a “transformational cooperative owned by practitioners and advocates, offering quality assured energy saving refurbishment”. RetrofitWorks are working on a number of live schemes across the country. This includes the BEIS funded Cosy Homes Oxfordshire, led by Low Carbon Hub and National Energy Foundation, helping to deliver energy efficient home retrofit in Oxfordshire.

The UK Government’s declaration of a climate emergency means that they have committed to net zero GHG emissions by 2050. The household sector is responsible for 20% of these GHG emissions, while 80% of homes standing in 2050 have already been built. Decarbonising our existing housing stock is therefore a major priority. A ‘fabric first’ approach is the most effective way to do this, which means improving insulation, airtightness, and ventilation as a first priority.

Talk to us if you’re thinking about a retrofit project alongside more substantial changes to your home. You can also register your home with Cosy Homes Oxfordshire to get a ‘Whole House Plan’.

04 June 2020

The KunstHausWien (Art Museum Vienna), Austria, by Friedensreich Hundertwasser. He is described as a “painter, architecture doctor, ecological activist and philosopher”, with a unique visual language. Hundertwasser believed in a human architecture existing in harmony with nature. His ecological vision challenged social norms, committing to diversity, the organic, the “unregulated irregularities”, through the use of spontaneous vegetation and the support of natural cycles.

“The straight line leads to the downfall of our civilisation”. The KunstHausWien epitomises his philosophy. An opponent of the straight line, even the ground floor of the museum undulates, while the street bollards outside curve at the ends in response to this. The façade is an eclectic mix of forms and vivid colours. Plant vines climb and spread organically, while mature trees sit effortlessly at rooftop level. The building certainly lives up to the desire to co-exist with nature.

Growing plants on buildings is something we have a strong interest in. It can be done in so many different ways. Talk to us if you’d like to create wonderful buildings using these principles.

28 May 2020

We gained planning permission last week for our two-storey rear / side extension and retrofit project in Oxford. The proposal moves the kitchen from a dark inner area to the rear of the house, where it overlooks the garden and connects to new living and dining spaces. The single-storey element ensures compliance with the 45-degree rule at first floor, while the roof of the two-storey element runs flush with the existing main roof to simplify geometry, reduce prominence, and save cost.

The planning officer originally asked us to reduce the scheme, on the grounds that it’s ‘overly prominent’. However, we argued our case based on the design justifications above. We also drew their attention to the numerous extensions on the street that are similar or more prominent, all of which were approved. In the end, we persuaded the officer and their team leader to change their minds and to approve the application.

We have a good working relationship with planning officers at Oxford City Council and surrounding local authorities, which helps us to open a dialogue when seeking planning permission. Talk to us if you are looking to start a project that requires planning permission.

21 May 2020

Our research on house eco-retrofit evaluated the performance of three case studies in Oxford. The research looked at both physical (hard) data and behavioural (soft) data. One aspect of the physical data came from the use of a thermal imaging camera to detect thermal bridging – the wasteful transfer of heat between inside and outside. During a thermographic survey in cold climates, the buildings should be heated to create a difference between inside and outside of at least 10°C.

Taking photos next to thermal images enables accurate comparison. These images show the true effectiveness of insulation. The above property is a 1950s semi with a bay window, which were traditionally formed of an uninsulated, thin timber construction. The grey circle highlights the severe heat loss from the radiator. The below property has been insulated externally, demonstrating the uniformity of lower surface temperature compared to the neighbour, which is uninsulated.

Through our research, we understand building physics and how to design with thermal performance and comfort in mind. Talk to us about your energy-efficient and ecological building projects.

14 May 2020

Another one of our research projects in East Oxford, ‘Rooftop Neighbourhood’. This residential development provides high-quality, low-energy housing, with a focus on connecting residents with the wider community. It’s split over three levels, basement, ground, and roof. Lightwells introduce natural daylight and cross ventilation to all three levels, while a modern take on window shutters helps to prevent overheating by stopping solar gain entering the buildings directly.

At rooftop level, a shared landscaped space encourages households to engage with each other through socialising and play, with sky bridges that connect housing blocks. At ground level, the public square becomes a node for urban activity, with connection to the local primary school on one side and shops to the other. The pedestrianised space opens up opportunities as an everyday playground, and a place for regular events such as the farmers’ market and street parties.

Housing for people is what we love to do. Engagement with the community is key. Talk to us about how we can help with your architectural project, whatever size it is.

07 May 2020

A site massing and design parameter sketch for one of our current new-build house projects in Oxford. The plot is unusually wide for the street, which is predominantly made up of older, narrower house types. To avoid appearing overly prominent, the proposal has been broken down into smaller masses that are comparable to those on the street. This introduced the concept of a central circulation core, serving living quarters to one side and ancillary to the other.

The central core opened up an opportunity to, upon entering the home, immediately capture views to the rear garden and meadow beyond. The stepping of the façades brings in more natural light, while to the rear it maximises exposure to the south west sun – great for sunset views in the evenings. Conforming to existing building lines on the street side, as well as rules for neighbours’ access to daylight and sunlight, ensures the proposal adheres to planning policy.

Sketches like this help to visualise the concept and justify design decisions. Talk to us if you need help defining your brief, assessing site parameters, and visualising the concept for your project.

30 April 2020

Nine Houses in Dietikon, Switzerland, by Peter Vetsch. One of his more famous pieces of work, this extraordinary series of private family dwellings has the appearance of growing out of the ground. When we first visited, we were surprised about its location on a normal residential street, bar the fantasy castle opposite of course – the personal residence of Peter Vetsch to satisfy his wife’s desires (they were kind enough to open the door to say hello and tell us the story).

According to Vetsch, the organic form represents the connection between humans and their first shelter. He believes that we should live within organic forms surrounded by nature. The dome shapes were achieved using a formed steel structure and mesh with a spray-on concrete. This was insulated, waterproofed, and covered with earth to provide a thick substrate for plants to thrive on. This is known as an intensive green roof, providing garden space at rooftop level.

We specialise in growing plants on buildings and are committed to creating wonderful homes using ecological design principles. Talk to us if you are looking to create a new or refurbished eco home.

23 April 2020

What do children do at home? This concept board begins to explore some of the activities that young children get involved in at home. Some activities are messy, some require a calm environment, others will benefit from the natural light and warmth from the sun. For example, does waking up to daylight help with starting the day in a fresh and positive way? Which internal wall and floor finishes are best for easily mopping up spillages that won’t mind getting wet all the time?

This understanding has become particularly relevant in current circumstances, where we’ve been confined to the four walls of our houses. We’re spending much more time here than we normally would, and our homes have become places where we do everything. We can use this time to work out what is and isn’t working for us, and how we might change things for the better. Truly understanding how you use every aspect of your home really helps to define a design brief.

Our role is to work closely with our clients to gain a deep understanding of their brief and together, come up with solutions to an existing need. Talk to us if you have a project you would like to explore together.