Eco-Open Homes -Hastings. Full retrofit house

A radical re-working and extensions (up and backwards) of a former Victorian shop with a flat over. Previously known to have been a wet fish shop and completely dilapidated when acquired so needing major structural and damp solving works. The building was completely gutted back to the basis outside walls and the garden was lowered by about 1 metre to facilitate construction of a living/dining room at the rear. The height of the building was raised by about half a storey at the front and one and a half at the rear and to achieve this new inner blockwork walls were erected on new foundations. The two new floors use concrete beam and block construction while the flat roof uses composite timber I-beams.

High levels of insulation have been installed to Passive House standards. A key element in the design has been to introduce as much daylight as possible into this narrow house which fronts a busy and polluted road, and this has been achieved with large rooflights and a glass stair. An air source heat pump is mounted on a roof top ‘beach hut’ (referencing the seaside obviously!) which contains tanks, expansion vessels, and controls. An evacuated tube water heater panel and photo-voltaic panels plus batteries have yet to be fitted due to a protracted ‘debate’ with HBC planners which is now resolved (after 3 appeals!).

HEATING AND ELECTRICITY USAGE

Oven and conduction hob, washing machine (no drier), small towel radiators in the two bath/shower rooms. Fan heater on the ground floor only as needed. A small wood burner in the living area for the coldest of days plus underfloor heating on the ground floor only together with a water bottle heat store under the ground floor half landing.

INSULATION

A minimum of 150mm of Celotex throughout with much more where possible and different types where appropriate from insulated foundations and expanded clay to the rear extension, waste polystyrene in the old chimney stacks, to 400mm of sheep’s wool in the roof. Double, mostly triple (Rationel), quadruple and even some quintuple glazing as appropriate and as could be sourced.

WATER

Rainwater storage tanks above the dining area ceiling and in the roof space are used for hand washing and low volume toilet flushing.

MAINTENANCE

Durable high quality materials are used externally to minimise future maintenance and these include real slate and Corten (rusty steel) cladding, brickwork, and stainless steel and aluminium cladding and weatherings. A sedum roof may be in place on a rear outbuilding (store and workshop) in time for the event.