Mews houses hold a unique, historic character; their footprints are often small offering minimal opportunities for natural light penetration into the heart of the building, nestled between adjoining properties on 3 sides. Our project converted a 87sqm Mews property into a 131sqm modern home with a striking series of permanent brick-formed structural concrete arches with an exposed, bespoke steel and timber roof. Hidden behind the only façade that has windows, the design provides an innovative solution for the client by introducing top-lit lightwells that puncture the plan from roof to basement level, pulling light into the heart of the house. This, combined with a careful use of natural materials and expression of the structure, creates a welcoming, light and visually enticing home. Designed with the client in mind, recessed walls and niches become a part of the architectural language for the display of art throughout the house, while the multi-height lightwell (show lightwell) at the rear of the property can take large hanging art pieces.
There is an honest expression of structure and detailing, particularly in the exposed structural roof and brick arches (supported by an expressed steel structure). The arches have a fully integrated LED linear lighting track enabling a 100% sustainable electric-powered building, alongside an electric boiler for underfloor heating and a natural ventilation system. Additionally, fire engineering removed the need for intrusive fire systems such as fire curtains and a discrete misting solution is provided instead. Our approach to design was to remove all greenhouse gas emissions during operation, achieved through the use of electrical power throughout including heating and cooking. The client will only use a sustainable green electricity supplier. The large amount of natural light within the property will reduce the need for artificial lighting, which is enhanced by the choice of materiality including reflective off-white painted walls, glass balustrading and polished light grey concrete flooring. Exposed brick work for the vaults contrasts with the painted steelwork, timber flooring and polished concrete as an added level of richness.
Sustainability
We are making a total improvement in annual CO emissions as the building will be powered from sustainable electricity suppliers. The building is highly insulated and only powered by electricity from a sustainable supplier.
Energy reduction is approached on two fronts:
1. Use the building fabric to control energy consumption by: -
• Controlled natural ventilation flows through the façade and circulates around the accommodation until it reaches the read of the house where the air is extracted through
• Where the air is extract through stack ventilation through the rear lightwell;
• We have introduced multiple roof lights for daylight penetration;
• Thermally efficient facades and roofs;
By exposing the structural mass of the brick vaults and exposed polished concrete floors, night purging is used to cool the structure in the summer months and the exposed thermal mass assists the maintenance of a comfortable temperature during winter.
2. Energy efficient systems: -
•There is a small amount of mechanical ventilation to the basement floor, using highly efficiency motors, inverter fan speed control, and heat recovery to minimise energy consumption;
• We have enabled zone control and the supply temperature set-points are arranged to maximise the period of free cooling;
• The zones are individually controlled and there is a provision of local control of heating systems to prevent overheating.
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“You've helped us to create something really special. In times like these, that's particularly precious.”
Client, October 2020
