The brief was to achieve planning permission for a large family house on the site of several existing garages, that would obtain the maximum development potential. Surrounded by large houses with views across the site, the proposal integrates landscaping to blend the upper floors with the established trees.
The visual mass of the proposed family house was reduced so that it would not dominate the existing views in a tight urban setting. A variety of permeable views through the building, plants, open mesh and the use of different coloured copper panels with varying degrees of patination, obscure the definition between building and nature.
Sustainable environmental control and solar shading are provided by deciduous and evergreen plants. Large windows allow winter natural light to all rooms through the tree canopies and encourage summer warm air currents to rise through the building to high level outlets. Cooler air is drawn into the base of the building. A garden water feature is incorporated into the summer cooling strategy.
A detailed 3D computer model was used explore a complex matrix of elements, materials, views and discussions with the client and planning department.
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