Houzz Tour: A New Forest New Build That Treads Lightly on the Land
A natural swimming pond and low-energy living make this contemporary home in the forest an ecological dream
When Clare and Jonathan Potter bought a piece of land in the heart of the New Forest with a view to building their own home, they were determined to embrace sustainable living. The land is set amid 18 acres of glorious ancient woodland, and the new timber cottage they had in mind had to respect the luscious surroundings while providing them with a contemporary, low-energy living space.
‘Planning permission was always going to be a challenge,’ says architect Darren Bray, ‘but the low-lying, vernacular structure we eventually settled on sits in perfect harmony with the landscape.’
Fundamental to the brief was a natural swimming pond. ‘It’s on the south side of the house and sits outside the main living areas,’ says Darren. ‘The spot is very tranquil and the pond is the icing on the cake.’
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Clare and Jonathan Potter
Location Near Minstead, New Forest
Architect Darren Bray at PAD studio
4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, plus an annex
‘Planning permission was always going to be a challenge,’ says architect Darren Bray, ‘but the low-lying, vernacular structure we eventually settled on sits in perfect harmony with the landscape.’
Fundamental to the brief was a natural swimming pond. ‘It’s on the south side of the house and sits outside the main living areas,’ says Darren. ‘The spot is very tranquil and the pond is the icing on the cake.’
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Clare and Jonathan Potter
Location Near Minstead, New Forest
Architect Darren Bray at PAD studio
4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, plus an annex
Darren used ipe timber – known for its dense, hard-wearing properties – for the external cladding and decking area. It also has a chain of custody, so he could be certain it came from a sustainable source. ‘We introduced shutters on the outside of the building to help prevent it heating up too much during summer,’ he explains. ‘They also help to cut the glare from the windows.’
Ensuring plenty of natural light was integral to the design as Clare and Jonathan wanted to keep their energy consumption to a minimum. ‘The kitchen, dining and living rooms only really need artificial light from around 9.30pm in summer, as sunshine pours in through the big windows,’ says Darren.
Solar gain and photovoltaic panels have been used throughout the property in a bid to keep the couple’s carbon footprint to an absolute minimum. ‘During summer, they’re pretty much off-grid,’ says Darren. ‘It’s incredibly sustainable; they’re probably feeding energy back to the grid.’ The couple also have their own sewage treatment facility.
A concrete spine wall runs from the ground floor down to the basement and acts as a thermal mass, negating fluctuations in temperature. It absorbs heat during the day, then a north-facing roof light releases the heat at night. The house is also insulated by a mound of earth on the north side of the property. ‘We created an earth berm with all of the earth that came out of the excavation,’ explains Darren. ‘We didn’t want it to end up in a landfill site.’ The berm also acts as an acoustic baffler, muffling sound from a nearby road.
Discover more ways to use concrete creatively
Discover more ways to use concrete creatively
Douglas fir timber was used to create the concrete spine wall, leaving a wonderfully textured imprint once it was removed. ‘The timber used for this kind of wall is usually sent to landfill, but that was out of the question given the sustainable nature of the build,’ explains Darren. After much consideration, it was re-used as cladding on the car port.
‘Space in the house is quite limited, so it was important to get the layout of the open-plan kitchen-diner/living room just right,’ explains Darren. ‘It’s compact, but we’ve managed to create a natural flow from one area to the next.’ The worktops are pre-cast concrete from MASS Concrete, creating a sleek, simple finish that subtly references the concrete spine wall. For their heating and hot water, Clare and Jonathan rely on a ground source heat pump.
Worktops, MASS Concrete.
Worktops, MASS Concrete.
A wood-burning stove built into the chimney is a beautiful feature in winter, enhancing the cosy, log-cabin feel of the space. With an entire forest as their garden, the couple have an endless supply of timber to burn, although they also benefit from underfloor heating.
‘Jonathan and Clare challenged us to create an uninterrupted view of the pond from the master bedroom,’ says Darren. The answer was a zinc-clad window with a pivot door, allowing the couple to dangle their toes into the natural pond if they wish. The rest of the room was kept relatively simple, with engineered oak flooring providing a natural frame for the stunning views.
In the basement, natural light floods into the bedrooms via skylights cut into the earth berm above ground. The back wall is a continuation of the concrete spine. The room has been kept deliberately simple in order to let the natural imprint of the timber on the concrete take centre stage.
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