Nature-Centred Design at 1920s BuStop House, Willingham

Tue 8 Oct 2024, 7:30pm – 8:30pm

This was a superb online tour and questions, with lots of details from Samir and Raveena about their inventive, delightful retrofit.

You can see more in :

• Video of this online tour, edited with sections marked in the timeline
• Slides PDF from the tour with clickable links
• Case Study 2-page detailed PDF

Meet your host, Samir & Raveena

As architects, it was crucial for Raveena and I to approach our home’s renovation with the same circular sustainable principles we apply to our lives. Choosing natural, breathable materials not only allows the majority of the building to return to the earth naturally at the end of its lifecycle but also ensures a warm and healthy living space. Throughout the project, we meticulously addressed and improved every surface inside and outside the property. With a hands-on approach, we completed 95% of the work ourselves. Our design principles are based on the Platonic Solids and emphasise natural materials, incorporating wood, cork for finishes, limecrete for the floors, and using clay-based paints for a healthier indoor environment. 

Having purchased a house with a bus stop right outside, we aimed to foster a connection between the home and its community and wanted to give back by installing a bench seat linked to the house for public use.

Key Features of this home

• External Wall – 100mm cork
• Suspended original floors – 100mm recycled plastic insulation
• Solid floor extension – 300mm Geocell foam glass
• Loft – 300mm mineral wool
• LED lighting and energy efficient appliances
• Underfloor heating in extension
• Zoned heating controls throughout
• Limecrete solid floor
• Clay paints
• Second hand parquet flooring
• Cork floor and wall finishes
• Rainwater harvesting

 

   

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Thanks to our 2024 Open Eco Homes funders and supporters