Design Ethos
The design ethos for Santiago is grounded in the idea of a home being within a community, which requires a degree of flexibility to meet the different needs of the occupants. Therefore, accommodation is designed to Lifetime Homes standard, complies with level 5 of the Code for Sustainable Homes and seeks to provide the friendliness of the familiar with a modern concept of sustainable living for future communities. Formed from six FutureForm modular construction units with ceramic faced cladding to reduce maintenance, the house uses a double unit floor plan giving a basic footprint of 58.46sq m with 6.38sq m of additions. This achieves a footprint of 64.84sq m and so is within the 65sq m allowance. The design can be considered either as a stand-alone or semi-detached house, but has been conceived as a contemporary descendant of the classic terraced Georgian townhouse and square, updated to provide flexible accommodation and greater energy efficiency. The setting of the house within an urban design seeks to demonstrate an approach that reflects modern lifestyles and influences the micro-climate and energy efficiency. This 'flexible square' layout defines a community green space, incorporating a children's play area with trees normally too large for small gardens. The positioning and juxtaposition of the buildings and trees provide wind protection and therefore affect the micro-climate, impacting on the performance of each home. Flexible accommodation has been taken as central to the idea of a sustainable community. The changing lifetime needs and Lifetime Homes standard have been adopted with a ground floor multi-purpose space (MPS) that includes a disabled person sized bathroom. The configuration of the ground floor layout allows the MPS to become a self-contained office, flat for elderly or returning family, disabled accommodation, or space for rental with the minimum of alterations. As a unified house this would be the main kitchen /dining room. The design also allows for lift access to each floor level, if required at a later date, with the minimum of alteration. The dwellings are designed to achieve Code for Sustainable Homes level 5, but it is anticipated that specific contractor and site information could allow this to be improved. These considerations, including the source and specifications of materials, will be necessary in reducing the carbon footprint and pursuing a zero carbon rating. The house has been designed with underfloor hot water heating throughout and has an air-to-water heat pump, evacuated tube solar collectors and photovoltaic (PV) panels. All equipment and controls are at roof level and Ecoflex connections from the heat pump to the distribution unit will run internally above the second floor ceiling. The intention is that the extensive PV panels will generate enough electricity to make a major contribution to the homes’ total demand, although peak loads will involve importing from the national grid. The installation will also have a metered credit connection to the mains supply, to take advantage of the government Feed In Tariff and Renewable Obligation Certificate scheme. It is expected that the installation would achieve OFGEM accreditation. The large PV panels are located on the canopied upper roof and provide the scheme with a visible expression of intent. An electric charge point is provided in the garage. The rooftop terrace and sun-space have been envisaged as an elevated landscape, transforming what is usually an unused space into a primary asset maximising land-use. The enclosed 'room' has shaded glass walls enabling all those uses normally associated with conservatories. Some rainwater harvesting is provided with a storage tank at roof level. This will serve the flushing of WC cisterns which will be fitted with reduced capacity and economy double flush buttons. Taps will be fitted with economy flow devices and 'shower save' fittings will be used to recover heat from spent shower water. At the entrance, an externally accessible meter/parcel cupboard and bin/recycle store have been provided. The main living areas on the first floor will have a double aspect outlook with Argon filled double glazed, 80 per cent recycled aluminium windows and the external appearance of the house is characterized by these oversized caricatures of the traditional sash window and balconies that allow for greenery as part of an internal/external environment. This integration of different levels of public/private green space within a defined sustainable community structure promises a pleasant environment for future families. |
