Low Energy House

Low Energy House
© Christian Brailey
Low Energy House
© Christian Brailey

LOW ENERGY HOUSE

Architecture for London

ARCHITECTS
Architecture for London

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING DESIGN
Architecture for London

MANUFACTURERS 
 Dinesen, Ize, Velfac, Vola, twentytwentyone, Design Driven / Grassi Pietre, Really Well Made, Reliance Veneer

SERVICES ENGINEERING
Green Building Store

MAIN CONTRACTOR
Construction Hub

PHOTOGRAPHS 
Christian Brailey, Lorenzo Zandri

AREA
 190 m²

YEAR
 2021

LOCATION
London, United Kingdom

CATEGORY
Houses

An Edwardian terrace in Muswell Hill was extended and refurbished to create a comfortable, low-energy house.

The original structure of the house was revealed, its modest beauty celebrated.

Low Energy House
© Lorenzo Zandri
Low Energy House
© Lorenzo Zandri

Energy requirements are reduced dramatically by insulating, triple-glazing, and improving airtightness.

New additions include a rear extension and a loft conversion.

As the home of Ben Ridley, Director at Architecture for London, this project aims to be an exemplar for the sustainable refurbishment of a typical terraced home in London, with a constrained budget.

Low Energy House
© Christian Brailey
Low Energy House
© Christian Brailey

Both embodied energy and energy in-use have been considered in depth.

Design features include timber structure, triple glazing, a continuous airtight layer, and insulation to the entire building envelope.

Walls were insulated externally at the side and rear, and internally at the front with wood fibre.

Low Energy House
© Christian Brailey
Low Energy House
© Christian Brailey

Insulating internally at the front has allowed the original Edwardian facade to be preserved.

Masonry nib walls were retained on the ground floor to avoid energy-intensive steel box frames.

Natural materials including stone, timber, and lime plaster were used throughout rather than cement-based products.

Low Energy House
© Lorenzo Zandri
Low Energy House
© Lorenzo Zandri
Low Energy House
© Lorenzo Zandri

The rear extension was built in highly insulated 172mm SIPS and all existing building elements achieved a Passivhaus standard U-value of 0.15 or better.

An MVHR system provides pre-heated fresh air, creating a warm and comfortable home.

The system also filters the incoming air, removing pollen, diesel particulates, and NOx to create a healthy indoor environment.

Low Energy House
© Lorenzo Zandri
Low Energy House
© Christian Brailey
Low Energy House
© Christian Brailey
Low Energy House
© Lorenzo Zandri


Low Energy House
© Lorenzo Zandri
Low Energy House
© Lorenzo Zandri
Low Energy House
© Lorenzo Zandri
Low Energy House
© Christian Brailey
Low Energy House
© Christian Brailey
Low Energy House
© Lorenzo Zandri


Low Energy House
Plan - Ground Floor
Low Energy House
Plan - First Floor
Low Energy House
Plan - Second Floor
Low Energy House
Details