surrey hills living
surrey
Our forward-thinking client owned a large plot with views to an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The goal was to demolish the existing bungalow and swimming pool to make way for two new, contemporary and energy-efficient homes. The sale of one home would fund the other; providing a sustainable solution on all levels.
In this case, our client was a wheelchair user, so we carefully designed the spaces to meet his needs. In addition to a simple but functional master-suite and open plan living area, the home benefits from a study, a guest room and a flexible gym space. A platform lift provides easy access to the upper level, where the best views are. A large balcony takes in the panoramic view of the garden and the Surrey Hills beyond.
Both homes were constructed from Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS) and finished in render and Larch cladding. The benefits of SIPS are twofold: speeding up construction time, while also providing a continuous and highly efficient thermal envelope. Solar thermal panels provide hot water and photovoltaic panels provide electricity. Underfloor heating and a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery (MVHR) provide efficient heating and ventilation with minimal visual impact.
Builder: Challenger Construction
Build Cost & Date: £1M (both homes) | 2014
Photography: James French Photography