This new dwelling is located on the site of a redundant stable block in the beautiful Chiltern Hills.

The layout has been designed for modern living in a U-shaped arrangement around a central landscaped courtyard. It features a simple barn / stable-style external appearance ensuring that the dwelling does not appear out of character in the context of the wider rural area.

The dwelling has been ‘future proofed’ to ensure that it will be suitable for our client to live in during her retirement; it will be fully and comfortably wheelchair-accessible and will comply with Lifetime Homes standards.

The house is to be clad in charred black & natural larch and corrugated metal and has been designed to be as sustainable, low-energy and environmentally-friendly as possible, using natural materials wherever possible. The design follows passivhaus standards, meaning that it will have very low running costs.

The new dwelling will be constructed using an off-site prefabricated straw and timber panel system. Straw is naturally renewable, locally-sourced and sustainable and has excellent intrinsic thermal insulating properties. This will ensure that the dwelling will be warm in winter and cool in summer, thus saving money and minimising CO2 emissions.

Solar panels (with battery storage) for electricity generation will be installed on the roofs and an Air Source Heat Pump will provide heating and hot water to the dwelling.

A sustainable surface water drainage system that will include rainwater harvesting has been specified and landscape finishes have been be selected for their environmental credentials, low carbon footprint and permeability.

A Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery System will also be installed within the dwelling to ensure clean, environment friendly spaces are achieved throughout.