Retrofit and Extension, Guildford

Private Client

Front elevation

  • 1930′s detached house, of cavity and solid wall construction.
  • Extended to provide additional bedroom, new kitchen, and spacious family room overlooking garden.
  • Existing house insulated and upgraded, typical U values 0.15 W/m²K.
  • New triple glazed windows.
  • Contractor: Kithurst Builders.
Note: photos courtesy of client

 

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High Performance Retrofit Scheme, Guston, Dover

Private Client

Front Elevation - Walls rendered with lime plaster

  • External wall insulation using 200mm expanded cork, finished with lime plaster.
  • Roofs upgraded with 50mm polyurethane between rafters, plus 200mm sheeps wool under, with vapour control layer and plasterboard.
  • New passivhaus certified triple glazed aluminium/wood windows.
  • New comfort ventilation system (MVHR) from Itho.
  • Thermal bridges and air leakage works.
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Ecobarn

King Edward V1 Humanities College

Eco Barn

  • Low energy sustainable classroom, designed in collaboration with C P Associates for King Edward V1 Humanities College in Lincs.
  • Constructed from Hemcrete by Lime Technology Ltd.
  • Rammed earth mass wall internally, designed by Ram Cast CIC
  • Full mechanical ventilation with heat recovery.
  • Northlights for high quality daylight.
  • Recycled plastics by Smile used for desktops and splashbacks.

 

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New Passivhaus, Faversham

Private Client


  • New detached house with basement, timber framed with flat roof.
  • Designed to avoid overlooking and privacy to over 30 neighbours.
  • Recommended by Swale Borough Councillors who commented “we should be honoured that our borough has been chosen as one of the first to have this kind of building”.
  • Currently being certified, foundations are under construction.
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Passivhaus Artists Studio, Canterbury

Commercial Artist

Photo courtesy of Cooke Industries Ltd - Passivhaus Artists Studio

  • The UK’s first light industrial Passivhaus.
  • Constructed using timber I beam portal frames without any tie members, giving a totally free interior volume.
  • Heated by a wood pellet boiler on a district heating circuit.
  • Airtightness 0.36 ach at 50 Pascals.
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Tyland Farmhouse Conversion, Maidstone

Kent Wildlife Trust

Finished Build

  • Total refurbishment of 17th century farmhouse from a derelict state into a comfortable office space for Wildlife staff.
  • External wood fibre insulation and lime render replaces 3 to 4 layers of cement render.
  • Rainwater harvesting serves WC’s and irrigation system.
  • Low solvent paints, natural fibre floor finishes, recycled plastic worktops, recycled car tyre entrance mats complete the project.
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Rippledown Environmental Education Centre,
Ringwould, near Dover

The Bay Trust

Exterior

  • One of our longest standing clients, a wonderful centre for school children to learn about their environment.
  • We have designed a straw bale classroom block which compliments the historic main building.
  • Main frame from reclaimed douglas fir, machined and erected by Norton Timber
  • 8 years on and funding is still not available to complete this project.  Next phase – windows, internal fit-out.
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Retrofit of Victorian House, Faversham

Private Client

External Insulation Side Elevation

  • Costly render repairs made external wall insulation a financially viable option, for this hard to heat end of terrace 3 storey house.
  • A combination of 200mm and 100mm external insulation was used, with internal insulation to the sensitive front elevation.
  • Combined with solar thermal and a new boiler, energy consumption has reduced by 60%.  The property features in the SEA’s Superhome database.
  • Even in a historic conservation area such as Faversham, thermal improvements are possible, if carefully thought out.
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Grade ll Listed House, Rye

Private Client

Rear Elevation Showing Extension

  • Grade 11 listed house in Rye’s central conservation area.
  • Rear extension to form kitchen, dining, bathroom and ensuite.
  • Repairs to existing solid and timber framed construction, using appropriate materials.
  • Thermal insulation using appropriate materials, rainwater harvesting, solar thermal, central ventilation unit.
  • Conker Conservation carried out the survey, design, planning application, building regulations, specification and tender.  Client project managed work on site.

 

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Roof Refurbishment, Margate

Private Client

The roof after refurbishment

  • A delightful cottage which existed long before Margate’s expansion, with flint walls and peg tile roof.
  • We arranged major roof repairs, and roof insulation works, using SPAB’s latest guide on Kent Peg Tiles.  Most of the tiles were reusuable, apart from the newest ‘Rosemarys’ which were defective.
  • Works were carried out on budget by S & T Fullers Builders Ltd, with the owner in-situ.
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New Low Energy House, Alkham Valley, near Folkestone

Private Client


  • An affordable, simple and functional new house for a farmer who has lived in a caravan for 17 years.
  • Timber frame, double-glazing, cork cladding, under a ‘brown’ roof.
  • Energy efficient buildings need not be complicated or expensive.

 

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Former Poison Shed Conversion, Bekesbourne, Canterbury

Private Client

The Finished Building

  • Former poison shed converted into an energy efficient annexe
  • Internal wall insulation, warm roof construction and fully insulated floor
  • Underfloor heating via condensing gas boiler. Solar thermal hot water. MVHR. Rainwater harvesting
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Self-build to Passivhaus Standard, Chilham, Kent

Private Client

Roofing Works

  • Self-build to Passivhaus standard, under construction
  • Traditional design in area of outstanding natural beauty
  • Detailing designed to be suitable for self-builder
  • MVHR and solar thermal
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Passivhaus, Shepherdswell, Dover, Kent

Private Client

Exterior

  • Designed to avoid overlooking and privacy issues with neighbours
  • Built using both cavity wall construction and timber frame
  • Air tested prior to completion at 1.0m³/m²hr
  • Passivhaus standard U values, avoidance of thermal bridges, MVHR, rainwater harvesting and solar ready
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Recovering of Flat Roof and Formation of Terrace Office,
Central London

Friends of the Earth

The Roof Terrace

  • Survey and feasibility to determine sustainable and economic roof recovering
  • Design and specification of system incorporating natural cork insulation and recyclable PVC-free single ply roof membrane
  • Oak decking
  • Sweet chestnut decking
  • Costings and advice on ecological refurbishment of office
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New Classroom Block for Netherfield Centre for Sustainable Food and Farming, East Sussex

Plumpton College

Exterior

  • Rammed earth walls utilising clay sourced from the site with locally sourced aggregate
  • Green roof system
  • Passive solar design
  • All materials selected to be sustainable and to provide a harmonious internal environment
  • Undertook all design and specification
  • Contract administrator
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New House, Charing, Kent

Private Client

Exterior

  • Replaces dilapidated bungalow in Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
  • Considerable planning research/liaison required due to very sensitive area
  • Design developed to minimise visual impact and heat loss – very exposed site
  • Super insulated walls, floor and roof, partially earth sheltered with planted roof
  • Maximises solar gain with dense internal walls for thermal mass
  • Design has received Ashfords ‘Building Design and Construction Award 2009, Residential Development category’
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Front Extension/Alterations, Kent

Private Client

Finished Front Elevation

  • Unusual front extension recommended due to restrictions at rear
  • Steeply sloping site enabled a lower ground floor to be added
  • Property within a Conservation Area, much research/liaison required
  • Achieved much improved access from street level
  • Design and specification of materials critical due to client’s chemical intolerance
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The Pines Calyx™, New Community and Conference Centre,
St Margaret’s Bay, Kent

The Bay Trust

The Pines Calyx Exterior

  • Earth bermed circular construction using rammed chalk walls with vaulted tiled domed roof and vaulted internal staircase
  • Researched use of chalk as wall material, and specialist products such as ‘zero-energy’ cork and timber triple glazed windows
  • Incorporates holistic approach to design, materials and construction
  • Undertook all detailed design, obtained planning and building regulation consents and acted as project manager
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Barn Conversion, Rose Cottage Barn, Romney, Kent

Private Client

The Converted Barn

  • Remains of a barn in in dilapidated condition
  • Amended existing planning consent and obtained approval of planning conditions
  • Obtained building regulation consent for conversion
  • Obtained planning permission for conversion
  • Extensive timber repairs required – sensitive to historical fabric
  • Design incorporated use of traditional materials and construction methods
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Refurbishment of Historical Dwelling in Faversham

Private Client

Front Elevation of Grade 11 Listed Building

  • Grade II listed dwelling requiring refurbishment
  • Extensive liaison required with Conservation Officer
  • Designed and specified use of traditional construction materials eg; wattle/daub, lime rendering
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New Urban House, South East London

Private Client

Front Elevation of Eco House

  • Replaces disused garages in heavily built up area
  • Planners had previously refused permission for conventional house submitted by the developer
  • Evolved contemporary design following liaison with local residents and local authority
  • Design has since received a ‘Green Apple’ Award, ‘National Silver Winner, Small Residential Project’
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