A fairytale house that is full of surprises
At a glance this rural property appears quite traditional. But its conventional design and materials hide a home that is quite different from the norm.
The owners were determined to mitigate their new build’s effect on the environment in every way they could, so it was designed to incorporate high levels of insulation and airtightness, excellent levels of daylight, and passive solar orientation.
Specified to be built using a timber frame and SIPs panels, and powered by renewable sources, it also incorporates an MVHR (mechanical ventilation with heat recovery) system. This is a solution to the ventilation needs of an energy efficient building, providing a constant supply of fresh, filtered air, warmed by the heat recovered from the internal air it is replacing.
The rear of the property enjoys long periods of sunshine, so glass has been used to great effect, both visually and ecologically. Velfac windows bring together the best of both aluminium and wood, providing a low maintenance, highly durable frame with a life expectancy of at least 40 years and excellent energy performance with U-values as low as 0.8 W/m²k.
Ironstone is not native to this north Northamptonshire village – this is limestone country – but the owners loved its distinctive appearance. Together with cedar cladding and steeply pitched slate roofs, from some angles, the house takes on a fairytale appearance as if it were made from gingerbread and cake. But this chocolate box exterior hides considerable Smart technology. And solar panels supplement the systems supplied by a ground source heat pump whilst enabling excess power to be fed back into the grid on sunny days.
Crisp, clean, uncomplicated interiors with stunning lines leave nowhere to hide and demand particularly high standards of craftsmanship from all trades.
The wildflower meadow at the rear of The Gables underscores the owners’ ecological ideals, and from this aspect, the property wears a more contemporary face. It is a unique and highly personal building, almost as impressive to look at as the views of the rolling Northamptonshire countryside that it provides from within.
