Conquering the challenge to construct a new dwelling in a flood-prone zone and wildlife preservation area proves to be quite an extraordinary accomplishment - let your spirit be stirred by the revolutionary outcome
In the heart of Cambridge, a conservation area, a unique self-build project emerged. Matthew and Anna, a couple determined to stay in their beloved city and accommodate their growing family, faced a decision: renovate and extend, or demolish and start anew. They chose the latter, embarking on a journey to create a family-friendly home that seamlessly blends modernity with history.
Getting planning permission for the project was no easy feat, given the site's location in both a flood zone and a conservation area. However, their determination paid off, and they were granted the go-ahead.
The new home, completed within a year, is a traditional brick-and-block house that belies its playful nature. The symmetrical proportions of the self-build house barely hint at the delightful surprises within. Small details, such as a toddler-sized door between two of the children's rooms, add a touch of whimsy to this family-friendly abode.
Architect Richard Owers, who oversaw the project, shared that Matthew and Anna did not want to build a loud or ostentatious house. Instead, they aimed for a classic family home design with a smaller wing. To achieve this, they incorporated modern environmental technologies, such as solar panels and battery storage, while using materials and design elements sympathetic to the historic context.
Slates were chosen for the roof to mirror the dominant Victorian roof material used locally, and a Cambridge buff brick was used to reflect the brickwork in the surrounding area. The ground floor of the house has been raised by 400mm to mitigate against flooding, and the window-to-wall ratio has been optimised to achieve a good thermal environment throughout the year. Walls are heavily insulated to ensure the home is energy efficient.
The top floor serves as a versatile workspace, particularly for Matthew who works predominantly from home. The rear of the house features extensive glazing, offering stunning views over the surrounding countryside from all the bedrooms. To accommodate future needs, a steel frame was erected on the south facade to allow for the installation of continuous glazing at a later date.
The house also incorporates external bird and bat boxes, including specialist boxes for swallows. Hard surface flooring was laid throughout the house to minimise dust, with tiles in the bathroom, polished concrete in the kitchen, and solid oak elsewhere.
The build, coming in at 300m2, retains a footprint similar to the demolished house (145m2 compared to the original 136m2). Despite the challenges, Matthew and Anna's self-build project is a testament to their commitment to creating a modern, energy-efficient, family-suited home while preserving the local architecture and environment.
- Matthew and Anna decided to demolish their existing home and start a new self-build project within the conservation area of Cambridge.
- The playful nature of the new home is disguised by its traditional brick-and-block exterior, yet it boasts delightful surprises within, such as a toddler-sized door.
- The project, overseen by architect Richard Owers, was designed to blend modernity with history, incorporating environmentally friendly technologies like solar panels and battery storage.
- The roof of the house was built with slates to match the Victorian roofs in the area, and a Cambridge buff brick was used to mirror the brickwork of neighboring buildings.
- To mitigate against flooding, the ground floor of the house was raised by 400mm, and the window-to-wall ratio was optimized to create a good thermal environment.
- The top floor of the house serves as a versatile workspace, particularly for Matthew, who works mainly from home.
- The rear of the house boasts extensive glazing, offering views over the surrounding countryside from the bedrooms, and a steel frame was erected for the installation of continuous glazing at a later date.
- To accommodate birds and bats, the house includes external bird and bat boxes, including specialist ones for swallows.
- Hard surface flooring was used throughout the house to minimize dust, with tiles in the bathroom, polished concrete in the kitchen, and solid oak elsewhere.
- The self-build project, covering 300m2, maintains a similar footprint to the demolished house, at 145m2 compared to the original 136m2.
- Matthew and Anna's self-build project demonstrates their commitment to creating a modern, energy-efficient, family-suited home that preserves the local architecture and environment, while promoting sustainable living.
