We are delighted to have submitted planning for 5 sensitively designed ‘sustainable tree houses’ in Waltham Forest. The site is transformed from 33 dilapidated garages into a stunning arc of upside down houses adjacent to the River Ching.
The project showcases how well-designed development can create huge benefits for a locality – 69% CO2 reduction, re-wilding of a once concrete filled site improving bio-diversity and creation of an ecologically rich island, formed to vastly improve surface water flow locally. This is so important as we design to make improvements to land with climate change weather patterns.
Working with London Borough of Waltham Forest through a Mini Planning Agreement it shows how councils and architects can collaborate for betterment.
The proposal has been designed with a fabric first approach with Passivhaus principles. Whilst the site dictates limited movement on orientation, the arc form is efficient and the fenestration design works hard, passively minimising heat gain.
- Optimised fabric performance through offsite modular construction, reducing the demand for energy at source
- High performance windows and doors
- Passive solar shading
- Air Source Heat Pumps hung from the structure for heating and hot water
- Energy produced by solar photovoltaics
- Intelligent lighting that work with levels of lux sensors
- Blue roof technology
- Re-wilding of current concreted land
- Cleaning up the River Ching in removing contaminated water
- Creating a bio-diverse setting working with the existing trees
The proposed homes are approached by an attractive ‘floating’ curved boardwalk, entering into a double height stairwell with the principal bedrooms and bathrooms to the ground floor. The upside-down nature of the design allows an expertly proportioned kitchen/dining lounge and separate third bedroom or workspace overlooking the oasis.
This proposal is the latest project within Clear Architects ‘Small Homes Revolution’, proactively creating well-designed small developments on irregular sites which have existing infrastructure in place. These sites support the London Plan and help to create new unique homes for the future. For other examples see Coach Yard and Finsbury Park Road.
Melanie Clear, Founder and Director of Clear Architects said “A site like this is handcuffed to constraints that makes it more exciting as a design challenge. Today’s developments should all be akin to this project, where betterment is created collaboratively across all disciplines, as we all work towards a zero-carbon future”.