Oak Cottage

Oak Cottage

Location: UK
Scope: Private Residence
Completion Date: 2019
Client: Confidential
Area: GEA 30,000m2 / NIA 9,700m2
Architect: Studio Seilern Architects
Structural Engineer: EOC Engineers
M&E Engineer: Clarke Services Group, CSG Design
Quantity Surveyor: Boaqus

This low-carbon extension to a historic farm cottage building provides new family living space within a rural setting.

This Farm has been in the same family’s possession since the 1930s. Studio Seilern Architects were approached by a member of the family who wanted to convert Oak Cottage, a house on the edge of the estate, into an enlarged family dwelling. The design approach was entirely rooted in the immediate and future needs of the family, as well as an understanding of the historic and environmental references of the existing cottage, agricultural buildings, and rural landscape.

The cottage extension is a contemporary interpretation of the traditional barn typology, using modern materials and large glazed openings. The windows on the east and west are of a regular pattern. Although the southern and northern elevations have large, glazed elements, and portions of translucent concrete, giving a reflective, smooth, and stone-like appearance that contrasts with the oil larch timber cladding that screen most of the facades and roof. The cladding will age to a consistent grey colour that will relate more closely to the hue of the concrete base. A protruding balcony to the southwest has a dynamic quality to the form when viewed from a distance and provides an extended platform to enjoy views across the landscape for the residents.

From the initial brief, the client for the project was keen to push the building regarding energy consumption and carbon use. Early-stage designs were thoroughly analysed by a specialist sustainability consultant, and this indicated that there were risks related to the form factor, as the building is relatively long and thin with a lot of surface area to volume, as well as an unusual contribution from linear thermal bridging. In addition, the first concept designs include significant areas of larger windows, which offered poor U-values. The detailed design challenge was to mitigate these risk factors through engineering, rationalisation and specification. As a result, the building envelope is entirely constructed from 100% recycled Durisol insulated blocks (Nexcem) which provide rigorous thermal insulation, covered with oil larch timber cladding. Whilst the sustainably sourced larch cladding provides an effective rain screen in a way that contributes to the building’s overall carbon use.