proide similarly high leels of energy efficiency when retrofitting an eisting property. By applying this standard, Bob’s has dramatically reduced the home’s energy usage. Bob’s passion for sustainable design stems


from studying architecture at the University of Bath, which included learning skills such as heat loss calculations for buildings. In 2005, after completing his studies, Bob set up his own practice to put what he had learned to the test, with, he says, the main goal being “making buildings more energy efficient. However, as Bob admits, at this time the majority of people “weren’t interested in building eco-friendly homes. oweer, in  a client approached the practice to undertake an etreme retrofit on a ictorian terrace house, which he says shifted our whole focus. This transformative project ignited a


desire within Bob to experience the same thermal comfort that he witnessed his clients enjoying. He found himself envious of the cosy atmosphere they had achieved. Bob recalls isiting the home after the main retrofit had been completed during a particularly harsh London winter. There was no heating due to the boiler not yet being commissioned, but a decorator was comfortably working in short sleeves, using a lamp for warmth. The encounter left a strong impression on Bob, fueling his determination to create his own energy-efficient haen.


56 www.sbhonline.co.uk


A few years later, with a growing family, he finally decided to take the leap. Originally, the plan was to find a site in London and build from the ground up, but Bob admits: “unless we won the lottery, buying even the tiniest parcel of land in central London was a hopeless dream. Their work commitments meant the idea of commuting was off the table.


So they shifted their focus to finding a fier-


upper, a property which they could radically alter and make it their own. Bob says this would be the closest thing they could do to building a brand new house. After an arduous search in a chaotic housing market, they eventually found an ex-council house in Sydenham. Neglected for nearly 60 years, with the exception of some shoddy installations of cheap PCu double glazing in 2000, the home was in poor condition; the doors and windows were literally falling out. Bob describes it as a shoebo with a mean layout oer two oors with a at roof. The ground oor contained a kitchendining area at the front and rear living space. The lack of natural light left the middle part of this oor dark and gloomy. our small bedrooms were sueezed onto the upper oor two being tiny and barely accommodating a single bed, says Bob.


The silver lining of the home’s condition meant that it was on the market for a more affordable price. Despite its cramped interior, Bob and his


jul/aug 2023


BOB’S ADVICE


• “Take the time to plan! If you are going to do a phased retrofit, you need to ensure that each phase satisfies building control every step of the way, which is quite a challenge. But if you think about it early on, it’s very much doable. • “Deal with any existing building defects before you start. If there are any damp patches, or the roofs leaking, resolve those issues before any of the insulation goes in the walls. Putting insula- tion over damp walls is a recipe for some obvious major problems, but so many people do it


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