Project: House in RoslinProject Type: Alterations, Renovations and ExtensionsYear: 2012Client: Malcolm TaitArchitect: Reiach and Hall ArchitectsLocation: Chapel Loan, RoslinContext: RuralSector: PrivateCost per Sqm: undisclosed
Initial discussions related to demolition and erection of an entirely new home. However, despite the poor quality of the built fabric, the project presented an opportunity to test sustainable and passive design principles. There was an opportunity to re-use and renew the existing in a way that was resource efficient and took sustainable attitudes seriously. Instead of demolition, in a two phase programme we worked to realise an extended and upgraded home.
Upgrading and extending the house has created an exemplary building, pure in form with an emphasis on natural light.
The existing house was the last property you passed before arrival at Roslyn Chapel - a fairly typical 1960’s bungalow, of very poor construction standards. The house stands at a dramatic position in Roslyn Village, located at the cross, with stunning views over the Esk valley. The large glazed full height openings, massing of volumes and rendered skin create a pavilion object in the landscape. Phase two extended the house upwards giving additional accommodation which takes advantage of the special views afforded from the site towards the famous Roslyn Chapel and the valley.
Instead of demolition, in a two phase programme we worked to realise an extended and upgraded home. On investigation by the structural engineer it was discovered that the existing construction was so poor that it couldn’t even support a lightweight upper storey. To take full advantage of the special views available, it was decided to thread a new steel frame into the existing construction, to support the upper floor. Due to the poor state of the existing construction this needed to be a very delicate and carefully managed process. Footings for columns were hand dug, for example. At a strategic level the strategy was to leave the existing walls in place as far as possible and apply the new construction as additional external layers. This presented several opportunities in relation to sustainable design. We know from our large scale work that perhaps the most important construction issue affecting energy consumption is airtightness. We were able to “wrap” the existing building here in a new airtight and highly thermally efficient envelope. The window system is Kawneer, normally used in commercial work, chosen for it’s excellent thermal performance and low air permeability.
Energy efficiency, sustainability and environmental responsibility is the fundamental design driver embraced in the project. The client is a leading services consultant in Scotland, who has been promoting the sustainable agenda for many years. In this most personal of projects we were able to work with this personal commitment to minimise raw energy consumption and maximise solar energy, natural daylighting and ventilation.
We re-used as much of the existing building as possible, significantly diminishing the embodied energy involved in the completed project. Once the strategy of re-use and renewal of the existing was accepted the remainder of the design effort was applied to make the building as passive as possible, before considering any renewable technologies - The new insulation, specified above statutory minimums, is at the outside of the construction, exposing the thermal mass internally and the house is airtight with large areas of south facing glazing induce solar gains in the winter months.
Adoption of these passive measures has greatly reduced the buildings energy consumption while it’s floor area was increased. It has become easy for the family living here to lead a low carbon life.
The project is testament to the skill of the architect in transforming an unremarkable 60s bungalow into something special and appropriate for its privileged position on the approach to Roslin Chapel.
Taking sustainable attitudes seriously, instead of demolition the building has been upgraded and extended, resulting in a low carbon home with a new sophisticated identity, pure in form with an emphasis on light and views and on being a worthy neighbour to an important historical monument.