Set at the foot of a wooded hill the house is designed to take best advantage of fantastic views across the Somerset levels.  The design has developed around an interest in how one might build an extremely low-carbon house in harmony with a rural setting, enhancing rather than dominating the surrounding countryside. 

By digging the lower floor into the hillside planning permission was gained for a 2 storey house that is only marginally taller than the bungalow it replaced.  Its form relates to nearby agricultural buildings rather than the vernacular and suburban houses in the village.    

A gently sloping roof extends beyond the building envelope on three sides to create sheltered outdoor spaces that blur the distinction between house and garden.  This welcoming, sheltering gesture works in harmony with the energy strategy by providing summer shading to the large windows.  Different rooms relate directly to distinct areas of the garden creating an experiential richness that extends the domain of the interior into the surrounding landscape.  The roof overhangs cast the walls in shadow, so from a distance the house blends into the hillside.  The weathered oak has a similar tone and colour to the local blue lias stone used on houses in the area

Green oak posts support the roof, tied back to the main timber-framed structure which is also clad in green oak that will patinate and weather over time.  Internally the rooms are lined in planed oak or painted plywood, a more refined version of the characterful external cladding.

Sustainability

The house has been built to Passivhaus standard which means it achieves very high levels of insulation and air-tightness.  The wall construction is vapour permeable to moderate humidity and create a healthy internal atmosphere.  A mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery (MVHR) provides constant fresh air throughout the colder months when it is undesirable to open the windows.  Ongoing post-occupancy monitoring has shown that the house remains within a comfortable temperature and humidity range throughout the year.

Highlights

“The house sits unobtrusively in the landscape, nestling into its context, of the hill rather than on it.”  – GB

“The design aims to preserve the rural nature of the surroundings and resists introducing the suburban features that characterise much rural development” – GB

“Making a house feel luxurious isn’t about spending money on everything, its about getting a few important details right” – GB

“From a distance the house seems to dissolve into the landscape” – Architecture Today

“It combines advanced insulation, clever heat exchange technology and careful orientation to avoid the need for heating even in the depths of winter” – House & Garden