Our brief for this building was to provide a future-proofed home with ultra-low running costs. It was to be built in the garden of our clients’ current home, offering them the opportunity to downsize to a modern home designed to meet their specific requirements.
Upside was built with SIPs – structural insulated panels. Pre-fabricated offsite, large structural elements forming the walls, first floor and roof were loaded into position by crane, providing a weathertight shell in approximately two weeks. The highly insulated structure is served by a mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system which saves energy whilst providing fresh air and climate control throughout. In addition photovoltaic panels provide low cost electricity used to run the MVHR system and meet domestic demand with any surplus sold back to the national grid.
As no roof trusses were required it was possible to create exciting internal spaces vaulted to the underside of the roof. A glass bridge is the stand-out feature within an open entrance area which extends through two floors to a glazed roof apex above, bringing daylight directly into the heart of the house.
Upside is a good example of the way in which listening carefully to client requirements before applying modern technologies and a holistic approach to design can result in a building which is aesthetically stimulating, environmentally sustainable and economically sound.
Main contractor StuartBarr rose to the challenge of dealing with innovative technical solutions and the stunning glass bridge which occupies the entrance hall.