Design Summary:

– A new energy efficient family home
– An agricultural house reflective of local contemporary agricultural forms
– An innovative structural solution integrating structure, decoration, reflecting context, concealing domestic and creating simple two person buildability. Reduce labour costs. Removal at end of life.
– A cranked form with each wing serving a purpose of living, sleeping, and support/ work.
– A series of courtyards reflective of the elements further tying to and enhancing the sense of place and connection to nature.

The concept looks to create a house form that responds to its setting yet reflects contemporary agricultural forms now common but little valued or recognised within the countryside. The building form is designed to be low and shallow roofed with a simple form and a repetitive structure

The cranked form creates 3 distinct elements and external ‘foldyard’ spaces between these that reflect the elements and further exaggerate the connection of site to nature, weather and seasons

The form and shape minimises energy use and maximises solar gain. The form encourages cross ventilation and maximum daylight and views

The design is repetitive to be economically viable yet allow a simple construction by hand by 2 operatives using few tools. The frame should be fixed and expressed so the form is generated by this repetition and simple yet elegant construction

The design sits the building lightly upon the landscape enhancing its artificial existence and ensuring it has minimal impact whilst at the same time placing the occupants up over the wildflower meadow to maximise enjoyment of views across the site.

The building is created entirely from sustainable timber comprising a glulam and softwood timber frame which slots together and interlocks to create strength in a diagonal braced network. Once the 4 frames are erected the rest can be constructed against it as it will all be self supporting and braced. Once slotted together the joints are drilled and held together.

The walls roof floor and cladding are all timber with the internal walls also in timber with glazed tops to allow transparency and views through the frame yet privacy between rooms

CLT sheathing will be applied to floor and roof and pegged in place as additional bracing

Foundations are of a repetitive small slab that can simply be lifted and removed/ reused when the building comes to the end of its useful life and requires minimal ground disturbance.

The roof is proposed to be clad in recyclable zinc. A more delicate form of the agricultural sheds sheet material.

Insulation is to be warmcel recyclable newspaper to floor and walls.

The building can be removed and recycled at the end of its life. Simply unscrewed and lifted with little long term impact on site.