AK Architects were appointed to deliver an exemplar, certified passivhaus in a very sensitive planning location on Dartmoor, Devon. The clients brief had to be carefully balanced with critical planning volume criteria to achieve planning permission, which was won through unanimous support at Committee.
Whilst the design intent is for a contemporary home of the 21st Century, this has been achieved with a careful understanding and interpretation of local vernacular forms, materials and ‘connecting structures’ in order to meet the criteria for a very sensitive planning location.
The elevated position, just below Haytor on Dartmoor, informed an open plan living brief with floor-to-ceiling glazing giving far reaching views across Dartmoor to the south. Large areas of glazing are carefully shaded with Brise-Soleil and overhangs to avoid overheating whilst making the most of low winter sun heat gain during the winter months.
The building fabric combines the best of natural low embodied energy materials with ‘high tec’, precision design / construction principles. The very low heat demand is met entirely with renewable technologies:
- Timber frame super insulated and wrapped in natural woodfibre systems.
- Timber Frame alu clad composite Triple Glazing.
- Airtightness result of 0.43 ACH.
- Heating demand result of less than 14 kWh/msq.
- Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery (MVHR)
- Air Source heat pump.
- Solar Photovoltaic panels
- Passivhaus Certified
Dartmoor National Park Authority aim to use the project as an exemplar for high quality sustainable design in the region.