Tree House, London SW2
Architect: Constructive Individuals
Register for similar homesTree House is a truly remarkable home located on a quiet road on the borders of Clapham and Brixton. It is one of very small number of houses in Britain to be energy self-sufficient, generating as much energy as it consumes. The design of the house by the architects Constructive Individuals, in collaboration with the current owners, features not only a visually engaging exterior using a rich mixture of materials but also some stunning interior spaces.
Perhaps the most impressive of the internal spaces is the open plan second floor. With a floor-to-ceiling glass wall and a series of skylights, the room is large, light and airy. The exposed wooden trusses also add to the grandeur of a space that, whilst currently used as a study and library could equally be used as an exceptional bedroom (or alternatively could be divided into two smaller bedrooms).
Other accommodation includes a first floor double bedroom with large windows overlooking the garden, a bathroom beautifully lined with Cumbrian slate and an open plan kitchen / living / dining room on the ground floor that opens up onto a private landscaped garden, with a striking formal pond dividing the two spaces. Another floor-to-ceiling glass wall, with sliding glass doors, integrates the garden with the living space and fills the interior with daylight. For further information on the accommodation please contact The Modern House.
Tree House was the subject of a column in The Independent newspaper called ‘Diary on an Eco Builder’ (by the current owner Will Anderson), and is the subject of a popular book of the same name. Indeed the house is one of the most documented and celebrated ‘green’ builds in the country. Key ‘green’ features include super insulation, photovoltaic panels on the roof, the abundant use of recycled, reclaimed and natural materials (especially timber and slate) and water-efficient taps, showers and toilets. Whilst the house has been self-sufficient in energy in most years since its construction six years ago, it is not completely autonomous – it is still connected to mains electricity and drainage. The National Grid is effectively used as a store when the house is producing surplus energy which is then bought back at night when the solar panels are not working. The house is everything the best ‘green’ design out to be: light, warm, draught-free, richly detailed and very low cost to run.
The house can be found on Bedford Terrace, a quiet road equidistant between Clapham Common, Clapham North and Brixton Underground stations (all approximately 10 minutes walk). There are also numerous bus links in all directions. Clapham High Street, renowned for its shops, restaurants and independent cinema is a ten minute walk as are the green spaces of Clapham Common and Brockwell Park.
Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. The Modern House has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.
History
The following is a summary of the key environmental features of Tree House.
ENERGY : The house is proven to be energy self-sufficient, generating more power and heat on site than is consumed across the year. This is primarily achievable by radically reducing demand. The building fabric is super-insulated and air-tight, with heat-recovery ventilation in the winter. All the appliances, lights and electronic goods are the most energy efficient available. The designers also maximised daylighting and took special care to avoid the need for active cooling.
On the supply side, power needs are met by a 5kW (peak) photovoltaic array on the south pitched roof. This is grid-connected so that any surplus is exported and then bought back when the sun goes down. Underfloor heating is supplied by a ground source heat pump, as is the hot water.
In a typical year, the house generates around 4,400kWh of electricity, enough to provide for all the lights, appliances and heating (via the heat pump). A typical house of this size has an annual energy demand of over 20,000 kWh. However the balance between demand and supply does depend on the weather – in the last two years severe winters have driven up the heating demand and so pushed the energy balance into the red. Nonetheless, because the additional power imported from the Grid is still very low, because the house loses so little heat even in the heart of winter, energy costs remain minimal.
In the last 12 months (October 2010 to September 2011) we have had the worst combination of a severe winter pushing up annual demand (4,770kWh) and a poor summer resulting in lower than average generation from the solar panels (4,155kWh). Happily the difference – 615kWh or £89 – is still only a fraction of a typical electricity bill and this covers heating as well as lights and appliances.
MATERIALS : The house is built predominantly with materials of very low environmental impact. Tree House is a timber frame building with extensive finishes in wood, complemented by Cumbrian slate and natural paints and finishes. All timber products have been sustainably sourced.
Reclaimed, recycled and second-hand materials and products have been widely used including teak floors, brick garden walls, salvaged sinks, a scrap metal fence, recycled plastic roof tiles and recycled newspaper insulation in the walls.
The principal exception is the considerable volume of concrete used in our ground works. This was necessary to ensure that the house endures – on a hill, next to a terrace, in the shadow of a mature tree (which is due to be felled).
WATER : The strategy is to reduce demand for mains water within the house as far as possible without sacrificing quality of life, and to provide for exterior needs with rainwater. Efficient taps and showers, ultra-low flush toilets and appliances with excellent water efficiency all play their part in reducing demand, as do details such as short pipe runs for hot taps. Rainwater flows off the roof and into the pond, from where it overflows into a deep underground cistern. With the aid of a salvaged Victorian hand-pump, the water is pumped out to replenish the pond and water the garden.
