Oaklands

PROJECT DETAILS

Location: Somerset

Type: New Build

Status: Complete

PROJECT TEAM

Contractor and Project Manager: MAKE

Architect: CASA Architects

Structural Engineer: Structural Solutions

Services Engineer: Greengauge

Landscape Architect: SEED Landscape

Passive house or passivhaus residence with cotswold stone and timber cladding in the sunshine

Passive house or passivhaus residence with cotswold stone and timber cladding overlooking meadow and woodland from large glass windows

NPPF para 79 (formerly 55)

Referring to a section of the National Planning Policy Framework which relates to building isolated homes in the open countryside, para 79 acknowledges the possibility to build a new home on land that would otherwise be rejected for planning.

To satisfy para 79, the design and build of the home must fulfil the requirement for ‘exceptional quality’ and must be ‘truly outstanding or innovative’. Oaklands was one of the first properties in the South West to be granted planning permission on the condition that it was a home built to an exceptionally high finish and to Passive House standards.

Collaboration

Once in a while a project comes along where every craftsman involved feels that their contribution will sit centre stage. Oaklands was this project and quality radiates everywhere you look in this exceptional home.

Passive house architecturally designed oak staircase with waterfall lighting feature and double height ceiling

beige marble wall and floor tiles with large white freestanding bath in bathroom

Passive House

Not only do buildings built to Passive House criteria provide a high level of comfort, they use very little energy for heating and cooling to do so.

It was vital to create a high level of air tightness despite complex architectural curves in the building design.

distance shot overlooking lake and rowing boat mooring of passive house or passivhaus new build with timber cladding

luxury passive house or passivhaus with large kitchen dining space and bar stools with glass doors and black kitchen worktops

luxury Passivhaus and passive house with Cotswold Stone clad exterior with timber cladding and white Audi TT

Luxury kitchen with bar stools and pendant lights overlooking large glass sliding doors into garden

Sustainability

The stone wrapping the building was sourced from natural quarries and the cavity insulation made from recycling newspaper. A ground source heat pump and photo voltaic panels control a consistent ambient temperature and power the electricity.

Combining these natural and recycled building resources with modern renewable energy methods created not only outstanding architecture, but a sustainably powered home for many generations to come.