Westfields, Bainton

Westfields is an experiment in cost effective, low energy modern architecture and passive solar design.

It balances thermal mass, carefully designed glazing and natural stack ventilation to create an ambient low energy home.

The polished concrete floors and exposed brickwork store the sun's heat in the walls and floors during the day and release it when the temperature starts to cool down, keeping an even ambient, internal temperature. 

The north facing windows are triple glazed to keep the heat in, but naturally light the main living spaces; whilst the south elevation is only double glazed to let the heat in. The exposed painted (un-plastered) brickwork internally and polished concrete floors (ground and first) heat up in the daytime sun and release the warmth when the sun goes down, gradually, over night - evening out the peaks and troughs.
High levels of airtightness and MVHR to reduce heat losses make sure the heat doesn't escape, whilst large, electric opening rooflights over the double height dining area can be opened at night venting in hot weather; cooling the thermal mass right down, to allow it to absorb the heat the next day and keep the house cool. 

As well and the energy benefits, the house was designed for maximum flexibility.  With huge, birch faced plywood sliding doors (half the plan depth) between the living room and dining area, and the dining area and kitchen, so the whole area can be opened up into one large space or three smaller ones.

On the first floor, two bedrooms at the front have bunk bed spaces over the birch ply wardrobes. The master bedroom has a linked dressing room and ensuite. The dressing room was designed to comfortably fit a sofabed and be used as a guest room. The link to the dressing room has bespoke birch ply doors which fold away flush into the walls when being used as ancillary rooms to the master bed room, to make it feel like one space. 

Simple considered design, executed well.