Sustainable Housing Competition by Castlehill Housing Association
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Michael & Sue Thornley Architects, Glasgow + Chap Construction, Aberdeen
housing images by MAST
In October 2001 MAST submitted the winning entry for the Scotland wide Sustainable Housing Competition, promoted by Castlehill Housing Association, for a site at Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. The final scheme of 34 houses was completed in 2004 and has recently won the Chartered Institute of Housing Conference environmental innovation award for 2004. The 'Envirobuild Award' recognises innovation in the creation of energy efficient buildings and the use of sustainable materials.
The design concept seeks to create a settlement within the fairly challenging surroundings and achieves this by placing the houses on the perimeter of the site, overlooking a small park and play area.
housing images by MAST
The scheme grapples with a series of dilemmas that are inherent in achieving sustainable housing within a world where goods and people are transported huge distances. The design move was to create wide frontage plans, to allow cross ventilation, solar gain and flexible internal planning, plus the provision of integrated sunspaces.
The main construction features include low energy double glazed windows, 300mm insulation to walls and roofs, communal heating and prefabricated timber cassettes, the latter being developed in collaboration with a local timber kit manufacturer.
New Houses
Castlehill Housing Association - Website: www.castlehillha.co.uk
Contractor: Chap Construction [Aberdeen] Ltd.
Architects: Michael & Sue Thornley Architects (MAST)
Sustainable Architecture
Wooden House
Aberdeenshire Houses
Scottish Parliament
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Inverurie Houses Building : page - adrian welch / isabelle lomholt