AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PERTHSHIRE
The site is in a rural area which though desirable for visitors and second-home owners still suffers from depopulation, low incomes and fragile services. The site adjoins a childrens' garden, gifted to the community.
Orientation and design allows for optimum controlled solar gain. The houses are linked for efficiency. The dwelling entrances act as entrance lobbies to keep out draughts and also to bring warmth and light into the house, and help heat the house naturally in winter.
All houses are designed to meet Housing Association standards for space, functionality and performance, and Lifetime Homes design standards. The upper level bedroom which has an external deck (potential future expansion) can be used as a study for home-based work.
Two house types use common components and design features for economies of scale and prefabrication.
Natural ventilation 'chimneys' extract stale moist air from bathrooms and kitchens and re-circulate warm air. The curved roofs are designed to reduce visual impact and wind turbulence and give a distinctive in appearance.
Ground floors are insulated concrete slabs, first floors timber truss joist. Walls are finished in lime render and natural, untreated larch, windows are timber and roofs zinc.
