Fabric of the
community
The UK public housing sector has shown that it can build
dwellings that are both low-cost and sustainable. Simon Ellery
looks at one recent awarding-winning example
A
mid high fuel costs, pressure for greener
Clay Fields
commuter belt town, and is a response to a lack of
homes, and communities insisting that new
Main project
affordable housing. The design, by architects Riches
dwellings must blend into the environment, a
team
Hawley Mikhail, also won a 2007 Housing Design Award
new UK social housing development has been and was commended for its “sense of benign local ecology
lauded for its successes in meeting those demands. Client: Orwell Housing throughout”.
This summer the Clay Fields development won the
Association
The project used local materials in its construction, and
Future Proof Award at the Housing Design Awards for
Architect: Riches Hawley
its heating and hot water are powered by local timber.
its eco-credentials. It features striking architecture with
Mikhail Architects
Dr Ian Pegg, a senior engineer in Buro Happold’s
sustainable construction, including a biomass heat plant
Landscape architect: J&L
sustainability and alternative technologies team, said the
Gibbons LLP
that uses local forestry for fuel. original brief was to provide a low capital cost solution that
Called Clay Fields, the project emerged through a
M&E: Inviron
maximised carbon savings.
Royal Institute of British Architects competition, set
Structural engineer: BTA
“We never attempted to be carbon neutral, but looked
by Orwell Housing Association, for a new affordable
Structural Design Ltd
for large-scale cost savings. This was achieved first through
housing development in the town of Elmswell, Suffolk.
Civil engineers: Cameron
strict solar design principles and increased insulation, then
Taylor
The engineering consultancy behind the development, through the services – such as whole house ventilation –
Buro Happold, says it produces among the lowest carbon
Contractor: O Seaman
and finally through biomass.”
and Son Ltd.
emissions of all similar multi-unit residential projects One of the region’s oldest crops, hemp, is used in the
Quantity surveyor:
across the country.
Hyams and Partners
manufacture of hempcrete, which was sprayed onto a
The 26-home development is in a rapidly-growing timber frame structure with wooden formwork walls. The
36 CIBSE Journal September 2009 www.cibsejournal.com
CIBSEsep09 pp36-37 social-clayfields.indd 36 21/8/09 10:33:03
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