Sycamore House
Location
Cambridge
New Homes & Passivhaus
Year
Type
Area
2022
200 sq m | 2150 sq ft
The low-energy refurbishment of this Cambridge house was designed in 2022 to achieve very low-carbon targets. We took a typical solid-walled 1950s housing stock, and transformed it into a highly energy efficient home with considered spaces and bespoke joinery for all the clients needs. The home is extended front and back and reclad with breathable external insulation, covered with a combination of natural sycamore cladding and white render.
Even when increasing the size of the home significantly, the new low-energy scheme managed to reduce overall heating costs by 75%, meaning a like-for-like saving of almost 90% on previous heating bills.
Internally, the house has a highly efficient mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery (MVHR), and air source heat pump providing underfloor heating, combined with passivhaus level design, large quantities of natural insulation and airtightness detailing.
We designed the bespoke interiors with custom joinery to maximise the use of space while ensuring a consistent design language throughout.
Central to the project was the creation of a new timber-framed kitchen extension which connects to the garden under a shaded canopy. This allows the client to enjoy their love of nature, bringing the outside in while being protected from increasing temperatures and summer overheating.
