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Brook Lea (Phase 1)

Forest of Dean

Project Details

£100,000 to £249,999

Brownfield site, New Build, Sited in SSSI area, Within a Conservation Area, Sited in AONB

Practice

Hills + Co.

Red Lodge , Brockeir , Chepstow , Gloucestershire , NP16 7NQ , United Kingdom

The completed, first phase of the Brook Lea development included this Garage/Annexe scheme, providing garage/workshop space at ground level with a small kitchen to the rear; and a bedroom and WC at first floor level. Built to Passivhaus standards, the project sits on a thermally massive raft slab, with deep, timber frame walls and roof fully filled with blown insulation and strict airtightness throughout. Externally the building is clad in cedar, utilising two cladding techniques to break up the gable elevations, and wrapped in a standing seam metal roof that is dressed down the side walls to reduce the mass of the form. Windows are A-rated with triple glazed rooflights installed. Internally the project has been wrapped in birch faced plywood with an attention to detail not normally given to an outbuilding. This affordable material provides a clean, hardwearing warmth to the spaces within. The interior design and finishes were selected for their simple and affordable attributes and specified to sit comfortably with the timber interior and with a view to sustainability. These include recycled plastic worktops and splashback; white ceramic sink, shower and toilet (with black fittings); dark blue Marmoleum flooring for durability, all brought together with a bold colour selected for the linking staircase. Built in plywood storage in the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom were designed and cut using CNC machines for accuracy. As part of this phase of the project, a greywater recycling unit has been installed which will be linked up to the main house once complete (see Brook Lea Phase 2) .