PROJECT SPOTLIGHT - Willow House, Surrey

This high specification residence designed by Strom Architects for a private client is a replacement house on a large suburban site on a private estate in Oxshott, Surrey. The Mesh team assisted with a feasibility study to assess the suitability of low carbon technology and carried out building services design.

The existing property comprised of several disparate extensions and outbuildings and was environmentally inefficient and lacking in occupier comfort. The design brief was for a more coherent and energy-efficient contemporary family home with entertaining spaces.

Feasibility Study for Low Carbon Technology

This study compared a range of energy options and the running costs for each. The property was modelled using IES to gain a clear understanding of its heating and cooling requirements. A number of different options were assessed including air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, and gas in different combinations for the house, pool and cooling.

A number of scenarios were modelled to give the client a clear understanding of the impact of technology specification on future energy costs.

Building Services Design

Our engineers assisted in the design of:

• Ground source heat pump for space heating, cooling and swimming pool heating
• Mechanical ventilation and heat recovery
• Solar battery package
• EV charging
• Integration of the swimming pool into the services design
• Hot water – gas calorifiers for hot water were specified that would allow multiple showers simultaneously
• Underfloor heating.

We guided the client at each stage through different options for the building services to optimise operational cost efficiency whilst achieving lower carbon emissions.

We assessed a number of space heating options and utilised a pond in the grounds as a collector for the ground source heat pump.

Significant Carbon Reductions

The building services specification achieved an estimated reduction in carbon emissions of 6.6 tonnes annually when compared against a similar property without a ground source heat pump, MVHR or solar battery package.
 

Architectural Design

Finished in textured natural stone and porcelain cladding, the new property is portioned into different volumes to create visual interest. One cuboid block houses the shared spaces, and another is for the private accommodation. These are connected by a double height glazed entrance hall.

A swimming pool complex is located in the basement. A horizontal concrete plane bisects the house, tying elements, defining terrace spaces, and accommodating ancillary facilities below.

How we helped:

• Renewable and low carbon technology feasibility study
• Design stage SAP calculations
• Dynamic thermal modelling
• Heat loss calculations
• Performance specification and design of key building services

Images - © Strom Architects / StriveCGI