Angles House will sit discreetly on the upper slope of the Waveney valley looking into the Hoxne Water Meadows and across to the Angles Way. The design references Anglo Saxon settlements, consisting of a series of single storey huts (as seen at West Stow Country Park). The four wood-clad “huts” that comprise the dwelling will be linked by glass connecting areas that will be see through and break the solidity of the buildings forming the house. The intention is to create a building that sits lightly on the site, below the tree line at the top of the valley, using materials and finishes that will blend with the background rather than contrasting with it: it will read cryptically in the landscape and draw little attention to itself. It has a strong relationship to the surrounding meadow that will be managed as a wildflower meadow, surrounded by native hedging and clusters of native tree planting by the owners (who have managed a wild flower meadow locally for 8 years). There will be no “garden” element around the house; rather it will sit in and relate to the natural landscape directly.

The house will be built to passivhaus standard thereby minimising its environmental impacts and, being on one level, will be accessible throughout. Given the local weather patterns (long dry spells and intense wet spells), the owners have chosen to harvest rainwater to minimise mains water consumption and not to use green roofs that will demand irrigation in the prolonged dry spells that are a feature of local weather patterns and thereby increase water demand rather than reduce it. Materials will be selected for their longevity and recyclability to ensure that the house is built to last.

SUMMARY
– To enhance the overall site with extensive meadow planting, extensive native hedge planting and the planting of native tree species – To create a highly energy efficient dwelling to replace existing buildings, sheds and an extant permission for a 295m2 new house
– Access remains unchanged for vehicles or pedestrians compared to the approval
– The new energy efficient eco dwelling accords with the councils policy for supporting a low carbon future and a climate emergency – The house will feature electric car charging and air source or ground source heat pump heating
– The house will be built from sustainable and recyclable low carbon materials
– The enhancement of the site will enhance the conservation status of this important river valley and support native species wildlife