The best of both worlds
A two-up two-down Victorian house in Nottingham was the subject of an upgrade on a limited budget by interior designer Joyce Moore. She reports for Selfbuilder & Homemaker on how it now offers warmth and energy efficiency as well as good living spaces
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an a standard ‘two up – two down’ terraced house provide desirable, clean living accommodation for
today’s lifestyles? The Victorian terraced house has become
a popular choice for first time buyers, single professionals and even young families. Its modest style, manageable size and price are attractive qualities, as is the plentiful supply in most towns and cities. The traditional construction of such houses
does present certain drawbacks. Internal space is not the issue – most traditional houses offer better room sizes in general than modern equivalents. The main compromise which buyers have to deal with relates very much to environmental issues; houses built around the 1900s, as well as for most of the early 20th century, are severely lacking when compared to current energy efficient standards. Not only do they fail to comply with Building Regulations for energy use – they also present owners with the prospect of high energy costs and wasted
resources. Inefficient heating and ventilation can lead to other problems such as poor air quality and deterioration of the structure due to excessive dampness. I saw an upgrade of a 1910 constructed
house in Bulwell, Nottingham as a way of demonstrating what could be achieved in a small two-up two-down Victorian house on a limited budget, with a view to looking at further enhancements in the future. The aim was to demonstrate what would be needed, as a minimum, to achieve an
[ 28 selfbuilder & homemaker
www.sbhonline.co.uk
acceptable level of energy efficiency. The project’s success has been demonstrated in the latest Energy Performance Certificate which showed a rise from 35 to 66, though further improvements have since been carried out which will further enhance the energy efficiency. The EPC score is thought to be as high as can be expected with a 1910 property without the addition of solar panels. I was also keen to retain and utilise
the inherent, favourable features of the house – room size, compact layout and solid
A lot of time and effort was contributed without charge, because of my enthusiasm to achieve something worthwhile as an exercise in property renovation. The ultimate aim has been achieved, namely creating a comfortable, practical home
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