Whole House Sustainable Refurbishment and Extensions

WINNER in the LABC Building Excellence Awards 2025

The challenge: Converted to flats in the 1950’s, this 1930’s house had been uninhabited for some time and was sorely in need of a sympathetic and comprehensive overhaul when our clients acquired it with the intention of turning it into their long term family home. AC Architects were given a challenging brief with sometimes competing requirements to create a home of exceptional environmental standards and exciting but practical spaces.

Fitting in:  At the front of the house, the extended roofline creates a new bedroom above the garage. The design of the front dormer and the roof slope sweeping down over the single storey front extension mirrors that of the neighbouring property and maintains the Arts and Crafts style detailing characteristic of the area enhancing the street scene.

A modern family home: Features include space for hobbies, provision for reduced mobility in later years and low maintenance finishes inside and out.  Existing smaller-proportioned rooms have been used for the utility and storage spaces whilst relocating the stairs to the centre of the plan, providing efficient vertical and horizontal movement through the building. The one metre level change from front to rear of the house has been exploited enabling higher than normal ceilings in the rear open plan living and studio. At loft level, the rear dormer is designed to reflect and enhance the 1930’s bay window at first floor, which is the principal architectural feature of the original house.

Sustainable materials: The original “shell” of the building has been retained as far as practical, for environmental and aesthetic reasons. Naturally sourced and recycled or high recycled content materials have been used to achieve a comfortable environment; avoiding use of petrochemicals, and ensuring low concrete usage throughout. Insulating materials include: recycled glass aggregate and EcoCrete to the ground floor; wood fibre in the roofs and existing walls; and cork and sheep’s wool to new walls. The use of salvaged bricks at the front, and carbon-negative cork cladding insulating the rear extension achieves both a low maintenance finish and a natural and textured colour palette harmonious with the existing house, contributing to the overall low carbon footprint of the build. 

Integrating sustainable technologies: The house has been converted to wholly electric operation, with a split system heat pump supplying the underfloor heating at ground and first floor levels, and low temperature radiator at loft level. A solar diverter uses excess electricity from the PV Array to heat the hot water, saving energy usage and costs. The combination of new triple glazed windows and extended eaves overhang helps combat overheating in the summer. Mechanical ventilation and heat recovery, MVHR, reduces energy consumption and enhances the indoor air quality in the bathrooms. Rainwater collection has been installed for the garden, with a pump for automatic irrigation in dry spells.

Team work: The goal of high level sustainable living was achieved by committed teamwork between client, architect and builder.

Award winning: The success of this project has been reflected in winning the East Anglia region Best Residential Conversion or Alterations to an Existing Home at the  LABC Building Excellence Awards 2025.