Paul believes that this project is performing as well as most Passivhaus builds
Sheffield. “We have nothing but praise for these lads – Sean, Ryan and Jonathan,” says Alison. “From the first moment we met them to the finished home they exceeded our expectations and left us as friends.” Paul makes an interesting point, in explaining that for a self-build project, the £162,000 total build cost was very reasonable. Despite this, the project’s scale meant that the cost per m2 of £3,240 is relatively expensive, especially considering the plain and simple finishing and overall style of the house. “You’re paying a joiner to come, for instance, so there are always going to be initial costs connected to the set-up,” he explains. “So there is that lack of economy of scale on one level. However, because the size [of the house] is compact, you can get to choose more superior materials.”
Paul is very pleased that the finished house has the “moments of delight” he tries to include in every project: “You’ve got to be able to see beyond the home. So, for instance, at the front you can look in either direction and see out into the landscape.” This is thanks to the verandah, but it’s also a practical addition, giving Alison and Jonathan extra living space, particularly in the warmer months. And because it overhangs the windows, it shades the windows to
mar/apr 2023
counteract overheating in very hot weather. While Paul thinks now that the clerestory window across the front of the house isn’t quite as large as he would have liked it to be, it still helps to flood the living space with light. In fact, both Alison and Jonathan say that they love to gaze out of the windows; Alison to watch wildlife – which includes kestrels and pheasants – in the garden, and Jonathan to spend time looking at the Pennines, which loom in the distance to the west of their house.
And of course, the home helps them look out for their three grandchildren, and they’ve been a constant, naturally evolving part of the story. Alison says that even before she and Jonathan built their house, they would have them over to sleep in the motorhome. “George and Ashleigh and the children moving into the house has been a kind of gradual process.” She adds that because the family business is also based on the same site, everyone is already used to getting along with each other on a daily basis. Would they ever consider undertaking a self- build project again? Alison shakes her head: “This has felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience and we wouldn’t change anything. We really wouldn’t like to do it again as this has been so special.”
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