Plot 8 - Barbara and Marco
Plot 9 - Dick and Joby

Marco writes:

We started with a basic design premise that was based on simplicity. By making the structure simple, costs would be saved that we could then pass on to other aspects of the house. In order to maximise energy-saving and to avoid the drains beneath part of our plot, we agreed with next door to build a semi-attached house. By coordinating our builds, we have reduced building time and gained savings with materials.

We laid a concrete floor on the ground level so that we would have a heat store that a wooden frame building would not normally have. This means that the house will stay warm long after the heating is turned off. Under-floor heating will save about 30% of heating costs because the water is heated only to the temperature of hot water from the tap rather than the much hotter water typically used for radiators. The initial outlay is much higher than for conventional central heating, but the warmth from underneath the house is more pleasant and cheaper in the long run.

The walls are 140mm thick studs filled with Warmcell recycled newspaper insulation and the roof is 190mm thick filled with the same. There is no heating upstairs, but with the house well-insulated the heat from the ground floor should suffice.

The windows are small Velux roof lights, which required no extra structural adjustments on the basic roof, and Rational windows from Denmark. We felt that the quality for the price was unmatchable in Britain, probably due to Danish standards for windows.

The house faces south and west and so benefits from the sun for most of the day, ideal for solar gain. We have large windows on the south and west side to take advantage of this, but we also have low overhanging eves to protect us from overheating in the summer when the sun is higher in the sky. The south side of the house will have a narrow glass roof overhanging from the wall to protect us from light showers but also to build up a small amount of heat during the summer to help the vine trees, growing underneath, to fruit by the autumn.

Inside, the ground floor is open plan leading from the kitchen through the dinning area and into the living area, with the stairs in the middle. A drying room is behind the stairs with a shower and toilet. This houses the boiler and will be very warm to help dry cloths etc. On the back of the house is a workshop / bike shed / porch and behind that is a car port. The bedrooms are upstairs along with a small bathroom and a study with access to the loft for storage.

(Click on pictures for larger version.)

Plot 1, Plot 2, Plot 3, Plot 4, Plot 5, Plot 6, Plot 7, Plots 8 and 9, Plot 10, Plot 11, Plot 12, Plot 13, Plot 14, Plot 15, Plot 16, Plots 17 to 20, Plots 21 to 26.