Having bought a small house close to the river and city centre, our clients John and Ann asked us to look at the potential of the project. John was keen to build to passive standard, which is an aim of the practice. The early 20th century house they were living in had wonderful brickwork and internal details, but was freezing in winter, so comfort was high on their agenda. We gathered the information we needed: orientation, proximity of neighbouring buildings, survey information on the site and boundaries. We discussed their brief, which included an area for a baby grand piano, sheltered outside living space, and a place for their two dogs.

The house began to come alive for John and Ann as we discussed the volume of the living spaces and high level windows, bringing in light from different aspects throughout the day. Comfort was a priority, so we proposed underfloor heating with a ventilation system that delivers fresh, warmed air. Together with the client, we considered the various materials to be used. One was the polished concrete floor, where we played around with different combinations of coloured stone and glass. This would be a strong design statement, which would help us make decisions on other elements such as sanitary ware, door and kitchen finishes.

Working drawings show how every part of the house is built, including all services. Timber frame was chosen for the structure, made off site in the workshop, which is better than on a wet, windy site. To ensure that everything fitted when it arrived on site, we checked and rechecked the manufacturer’s drawings before fabrication.

Specifications of materials to be used were prepared, along with schedules for windows, doors, sanitary ware and ironmongery. Calculations were done to determine optimum insulation thicknesses, and we noted that the house remained cool during a heat wave while the building was in progress.

The clients were decisive early on, which helped prevent costly changes on site. We made regular site inspections and discussed any queries that arose as building progressed. At times, a better solution would evolve. For instance, the underside of the deep overhang to the curved courtyard was originally zinc, but we felt that more warmth and interest was needed. Oak battens were chosen, and the joiner enlisted the help of his experienced father, as the precise placement of timbers on a curve was challenging.

As the end approached, we oversaw snagging to ensure that everything was complete and functioning as it should.

Finally, the family moved in. They were delighted with the comfort, light pouring in from different angles, the warmth underfoot. And the dogs have the best shed in the world!