december
Futuristic home takes shape under ground
Design and Construction ning Helsby Hill falls within field. We’ve worked extremely introduced by the RJ Lewis
Specialist, RJ Lewis Project Ltd Green Belt as well as an Area closely with the local authority team include an internal court-
were recently tasked with cre- of Special County Value, is due to design and create a 15,800- yard which allows light into
ating a state-of-the-art to be handed to its new owner square-foot home that offers the ground floor without
“underground” home in early in 2010. the expansive, low-energy living being visible from the sur-
Cheshire. RJ Lewis had to sat- space required while having rounding area. There are also
isfy stringent planning RJ Lewis Projects’ Director minimal impact on the sur- anti-glare windows, a vertical
regulations while creating the Simon Lewis explained: “The rounding countryside. Local “light tower” to carry natural
15,000 square feet of living plot’s owner had been looking councillors, planners and neigh- daylight below ground, a spe-
space required by its prospec- to create a large family home bours have all been involved in cially designed energy-free
tive owner. Amongst other that caused minimal environ- the consultation process.” ventilation system and a cut-
restrictions, local planners mental impact, both on the The main structure of the new ting-edge security system. Full
decreed that the visible part of surrounding countryside and in building is a steel frame, with home automation ensures that
the hillside home should mir- its day-to-day running. timber-framed and panelled energy consumption is con-
ror the footprint of an old “Having previously worked on walls then being used to create trolled whilst delivering a truly
cottage formerly occupying everything from offices and lab- four levels of stunning living 21st-century, contemporary liv-
the site.The result has been oratories to retail centres and space, two of which are below ing experience.
the creation of a futuristic, leisure complexes, RJ Lewis ground. Features include a The house is served by its own
four-storey property where 85 Projects is extremely experi- swimming pool and family water borehole, uses bio-fuel
per cent of the development – enced in marrying innovative space on the lower-ground floor energy and features its own
including the vast majority of design with the exacting and a large lounge area and waste-water treatment plant.
living space, a luxurious swim- requirements of planners. open-plan kitchen in the heart Its environmental impact has
ming pool and parking for However, at Helsby Hill we’ve of the house on the ground also been reduced by using
multiple vehicles – is carved needed to create completely level, with two additional floors sustainable building materials
into rock. The completed new design features while also of en-suite bedrooms. and, by being below ground,
home, whose location at stun- negotiating a planning mine- The highly innovative features incorporating a lawned roof.
Westminster City
City Council managing around can remain fully lit, whilst reduced daily maintenance report for each
15,000 street lights the SMART lighting levels may be sufficient for light. This not only identifies
Council deploys 21st Lights project is expected to make adjacent housing, industrial or park bulbs, which have failed, but also
Century street lights
savings of up to £420,000 per year areas. Even then, such is the flexibil- ones which are about to fail. No
and reduce its carbon emissions by ity of the system that at the press of longer will costly inspections be
Keen to eliminate wasted energy over 1.5 million kg. a button the lighting can be required as maintenance can be
and to cut pollution, Westminster The savings are achieved by using brought back to full intensity. This accurately scheduled and man-
City Council is taking steps to modern electronics to replace old safety aspect can be maintained in aged via the Internet.
make savings from its street light- systems in the lamp heads - existing conjunction with the city’s CCTV
ing with the deployment of a street lighting is up to 30 years old monitoring service.
revolutionary new system it has and very inefficient. These are con- Westminster City Council requires
been trialling as a part of its nected to innovative wireless lighting solutions that help enable
SMART Lights project. technology providing remote access the highways to be illuminated to
Savings of up to £46 per street- and control to individual or groups meet the specific needs of its
light per year and 100kg of of streetlights. The system manages diverse and ever changing environ-
carbon emissions per streetlight the light output allowing the dim- ment. The LeafNut system allows
per year can be made from the ming of the streetlights to match the designed lighting solutions to be
Council’s energy bill thanks to a specific requirements of a location at operated at dimmed lighting levels
ground breaking street lighting different times of night. This and only increased when required
solution called LeafNut. The tech- reduces energy wastage due to over to meet environmental needs which
nology has been developed over a lighting, saves electricity and cuts may be daily/weekly such as a the-
six year period by Harvard costs, whilst also reducing carbon atre opening and closing or
Engineering, a UK based consumption and light pollution. A monthly/annually for known events.
Technology Company. With the junction or area of all night activity The solution also cleverly provides a
6 Architects Choice
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36