| The Apple Barn
The extensive renovation and retrofit of a 16th-century barn in Devon, to become a modern, light-filled and highly efficient family home.
The design aims to respect the form of the existing barn and the agricultural context that surrounds it: In maintaining a central double height space, we can see where machinery came in and out of the barn; in using arrow-slit window proportions and existing openings; the external design has a modern twist and will sit well in the context of the courtyard.
The project has its complexities: working within the constraints of Permitted Development and negotiating a sensitive flood risk strategy, whilst designing to high-efficiency standards. The final design ticks all these boxes and will become a delightful family home.
The retrofit strategy is based around a breathable construction, using natural materials that help to prolong the life of the existing building and provide a healthy internal environment. We have carefully calculated condensation risk and designed a continuous thermal and airtight fabric that takes the design close to the Passivhaus Institute's EnerPhit standard. This all ensures that the building will have low running costs and is comfortable through the life of the family that will inhabit it.
We are excited to see this project progress, and can’t wait to pop the Champagne with our clients at the house once the final lick of paint has dried!
The design aims to respect the form of the existing barn and the agricultural context that surrounds it: In maintaining a central double height space, we can see where machinery came in and out of the barn; in using arrow-slit window proportions and existing openings; the external design has a modern twist and will sit well in the context of the courtyard.
The project has its complexities: working within the constraints of Permitted Development and negotiating a sensitive flood risk strategy, whilst designing to high-efficiency standards. The final design ticks all these boxes and will become a delightful family home.
The retrofit strategy is based around a breathable construction, using natural materials that help to prolong the life of the existing building and provide a healthy internal environment. We have carefully calculated condensation risk and designed a continuous thermal and airtight fabric that takes the design close to the Passivhaus Institute's EnerPhit standard. This all ensures that the building will have low running costs and is comfortable through the life of the family that will inhabit it.
We are excited to see this project progress, and can’t wait to pop the Champagne with our clients at the house once the final lick of paint has dried!
Project Factfile:
Project Stage: Complete 2020
Location: Exeter, Devon
Architecture: Croft Design Collective LLP
Main Contractor: Woofenden Construction
Structural Engineer: Simon Bastone Associates
MVHR: Nuaire
Annual Heat Demand: 26 kWh/m2a (Design Stage)
Air Tightness: 1.7 Ach @50pa
Location: Exeter, Devon
Architecture: Croft Design Collective LLP
Main Contractor: Woofenden Construction
Structural Engineer: Simon Bastone Associates
MVHR: Nuaire
Annual Heat Demand: 26 kWh/m2a (Design Stage)
Air Tightness: 1.7 Ach @50pa
Sustainable Design
Energy
- We used the PassivHaus planning package through the design stages to tweak the form, openings and fabric of the building to achieve an annual heat demand of 20Kwh/m2a
- Through detailed design and quality checks during construction, we achieved an Airtightness rating of 1.5 ach @50pa. Contributing to the buildings extremely low annual heat demand.
- A Centralised Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery System (MVHR) is used to achieve great, consistent air quality, and high levels of air tightness.
- The external wall structure is constructed from Porotherm Blockwork, a lightweight clay block with significantly lower embodied energy than standard concrete blockwork.
- The bricks are locally made by York Handmade Bricks, with Yorkshire Clay, significantly reducing the transport energy.
- Lime mortar is used throughout to ensure durability but also re-use of the brickwork at the end of the buildings life.
- The only steel in the building is in reinforcement of the concrete foundations and window lintels.
- Insulation products are EPS, Earthwool and Wood Fibre.
Technical Design
Retrofit
- The site is within a coal mining risk area, Intrusive drilling was carried out to establish the ground conditions and enable the accurate design of foundations.
- A highly insulated cavity construction is used, ranging from a 150mm to a 400mm insulated cavity.
- Basalt wall ties are used to reduce heat transfer through the external wall structure.
- The curved staircase is an important central feature in the design. To arrange spaces around, to link spaces with views and light. This was carefully formed from block-work, and treads were hung independently from the structure in a simple but bespoke design to achieve the required quality.
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Click here to edit
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 0
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4