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The first sketch ideas for a new Passive House project in East Suffolk, which is being worked up for planning after some encouraging pre-planning advice. Pre-planning advice or more commonly known as 'Pre-apps' provide both architect and client with an opportunity to receive planning advice and guidance prior to making a full planning application. This process often proves to be invaluable, and although it does lengthen the planning process, allows a design to be tested prior to working up a design in detail and prior to commissioning the necessary reports and surveys to accompany an application. Although there is never any guarantee of a planning outcome, we often advise pre-apps to minimise abortive work and to ensure a design has been tested and informed within a planning context prior to a full submission. #newproject #planning #preapp #eastsuffolk #suffolkarchitects #suffolkarchitecture #passivehouse #sketch #architecturesketch #newbuild
Fen Studio Architect - Specialists in sustainable, super low energy and passive houses. Thinking about starting a project? Contact us to start the journey... Website link in bio - www.fenstudio.co.uk #newbuild #sustainablearchitecture #ecobuild #newbuildhome #homeinthecountry #countryliving #fenstudioarchitects #ecohouse #timberframe #naturalbuildings #greenarchitecture #passivehouse#timberframe #timberframehouse #pavaflex #woodfibreinsulation #healthybuildings #eastanglia #suffolk #cambridgeshire #architects #architecture #contemporaryarchitecture
🔨 Progress and Autumnal vibes 🍁 🍂 #newbuild #sustainablearchitecture #ecobuild #newbuildhome #beamandblock #construction #homeinthecountry #countryliving #fenstudioarchitects #ecohouse #timberframe #naturalbuildings #greenarchitecture #passivehouse#timberframe #timberframehouse #pavaflex #woodfibreinsulation #healthybuildings
This certainly will be a room with a view for @emma_thebest_page_inthebook at our Aldreth project. Full steam ahead with @salmonsbrothers #roomwithaview #newbuild #sustainablearchitecture #ecobuild #newbuildhome #beamandblock #construction #homeinthecountry #countryliving #fenstudioarchitects #ecohouse #timberframe #naturalbuildings #greenarchitecture #passivehouse#timberframe #timberframehouse #pavaflex #woodfibreinsulation #healthybuildings
. Timbeeeeeeer... @salmonsbrothers have been busy with our new build at Aldreth which has been putting on some timber ready for winter. Lots more of it to come though, as the primary structure is to be entirely built from timber apart from two steel beams and posts. Recycled wood is also used for flexible cavity insulation and rigid external wood fibre board is used to wrap the whole build to keep it nice and cosy. As well as wood being a sustainable building material, using natural products also means the building is able to breathe, a fundamental part of construction which is often overlooked with PIR foam derived insulation products which are not breathable and can trap moisture. Some nice key views also starting to develop. Looking forward to the 1st floor and roof's going on! #newbuild #sustainablearchitecture #ecobuild #newbuildhome #beamandblock #construction #homeinthecountry #countryliving #fenstudioarchitects #ecohouse #timberframe #naturalbuildings #greenarchitecture #passivehouse#timberframe #timberframehouse #pavaflex #woodfibreinsulation #healthybuildings
The award for the most inappropriate site car goes to... When not at the drawing board , I've been busy restoring my classic Mini Cooper sport. Although just a car, this little beast has been with me, and seen me through some of my best years and was around long before architecture was even considered as a career path. Now newly restored (apart from the rust which will be ignored for now) the car has now taken on a new lease of life as the official Fen Studio mascot. Coming to a site near you soon! #roverminicoopersport #classicmini #sitecar #mascot #nostalga #classiccars
Site Progress - Renewable heating: @eco_installer_and_service have been busy installing the Ground Source Heating pipes at out Aldreth New build project. This is a super sustainable heating solution if you have the room for it, and without fully understanding the science it almost seems like wizardry, with coiled pipes in the ground magically providing heating to a property. In actual fact though, the system works by burried 'slinkie' pipes absorbing heat from the ground. The pipes are filled with a mixture of water and antifreeze, also known as thermal transfer fluid or brine. A heat pump within the property then increases the temperature of the brine and transfers the heat to the home's heating system, which in this case is to be used through underfloor heating on the ground floor and radiators on the 1st. When choosing a renewable heating system, which typically means choosing between an Air Source or Ground Source system, we always recommend installing the latter on larger projects, as although initially more expensive, it is much more efficient in the long term than Air Source which relies on variable outside temperatures. This is because heat is absorbed into ground in the summer, and then released into the ground in the winter, lessening the work the heat pump has to do to get everything up to temperature. #gshp #groundsourceheating #renewableenergy #renewableheating #groundsourceheatpump #groundsource #groundworks #construction #sustainability #sustainablearchitecture #sustainablearchitects #passivehouse #ecoarchitecture #ecoarchitects #cambridgeshire #suffolk #hertfordshire #eastanglia #greenarchitecture #greenarchitects #contemporaryarchitecture #contemporaryarchitectures #contemporaryarchitects #contemporaryfarmhouse #architecture #building
Some good beam and block floor action going down at our Aldreth project at the moment. @salmonsbrothers the main contractor cracking on well, ready for @futurebuildbrickwork to build up the block and brick plinths, ready to take the naturally inuslated timber framing. #newbuild #sustainablearchitecture #ecobuild #newbuildhome #beamandblock #construction #homeinthecountry #countryliving #fenstudioarchitects #ecohouse #timberframe #naturalbuildings #greenarchitecture
Let's get Technical... An exiting time for any project is seeing the planning drawings being transformed into a detailed technical package for tender and construction. We're very much enjoying that process for this new replacement dwelling on a farm in Witnesham, Suffolk. The design takes reference from the wonderful collection of agricultural buildings within the farmyard, and introduces a suite of biodiversity enhancements to tie in with the farms existing environmental initiatives. A big fella this one, so lots more progress to come... #farmhouse #agricultural #architecure #agriculturalarchitecture #farmyard #contemporaryfarmhouse #suffolk #eastanglia #suffolkarchitecture #technicaldesign #constructiondrawings #ecoarchitecture #greenarchitecture #sustainabledesign #sustainablearchitecture #biodiversity #contemporaryarchitecture
We've gone bold with our site signage ! 4 x 1ft or 8 x 2ft standardised architects board? No thanks, we'll take a Heras. #fenstudioarchitects #sitesignage #gobold #gobigorgohome #herassignage #architects #siteboard #newbuild #construction
A cracking day back on site today with clients Emma and Simon, and Adam from @salmonsbrothers to witness the first dig and foundation pour. The clients have had the dream of building their own super energy efficient home for many years so a very exciting and meaningful day for them. With clay and trees notoriously being a troublesome two when they get together, the only way to settle them down is with some very deep trenches and lots of heave protection. @salmonsbrothers not hanging around though and going great guns! #construction #foundations #newbuild #newbuildhome #ecohouse #fenstudioarchitects #salmonsbrothers #anewbeginning #passivehouse #sustainablearchitecture #newproject
#speilberg
A construction set prepared for a pre contract signing meeting this week to kick off our new build eco dwelling project in Aldreth, Cambridgeshire which will become a reality from next month. It often looks an easy process when seeing built work on architects websites and socials, especially with high performing new builds, but with so many variables at play, reaching this milestone is a very big achievement for both client and architect. The success of this project so far has been helped massively by the clients realistic expectations and an incredibly stoic attitude towards the whole process. Very excited to see this start. Plenty of updates to follow... #newbuildecohome #newbuild #newbuildhome #passivehouse #construction #cambridgshire #architecture #newproject
Staddle stone research for a current project - A few nice examples dotted around East Anglia. The word staddle" comes from the Old English word stathol, which means "base" or "support". The use of staddles came into prominence in 17th century agricultural Britain, and were used to support granaries, hayricks and game larders while keeping the contents dry. You'd think the mushroom shaped staddles were an aesthetic choice, but were actually shaped as such to make it difficult for rats and mice to climb. A good example of function over form. #staddlestones #agriculturalarchitecture #functionoverform #historicreference
An important part of any project is the testing of various material combinations. Testing with 1:1 actual size elements also helps to envisage the end result. Here, we are looking to use standing seam #greencoat #greencoatplx roofing , with a buff brick, #lindab galvanised rainwater goods, and #russwood Larch cladding with #sioox treatments. #testing #architecturematerials #newbuild
A local vernacular: While taking some time out touring Spain, it's fascinating how the architecture of the coastal and mountainous regions tends to become part of the landscape. At a micro scale each building is very different, while at a distance, and viewed as a collective the architecture mimics the rise and falls of the surroundings. The pleasing transitions between the built forms and the landscape are also helped by the vernacular style, which appears timeless. This evidently allows plenty of room for interpretation when newer infill additions or developments are designed and built. #spain #nerja #architecturecasestudy #localvernacular
Walking the Ridgeway... The last few days were spent solo hiking and camping wild along the 87mile Ridgeway from Avebury to Buckinghamshire from start to finish. A time to clear the head and refresh, which has certainly done the trick. I can't say I've ever been one for extra curricular architecture related trips as I much prefer to get away from the day job and I've always found most inspiration for architecture from much wilder settings, which also goes hand in hand with the studios ethos. So perhaps a study trip in that sense if you like. I also find pushing yourself outside of your day to day comfort zone a great way to appreciate the everyday things and people around you, and certainly works off any desktop related injuries. I always pack a few sheets of paper for evening sketching in the tent as I always stumble onto some unexpected and unintentional absolute gems which provide inspiration when you're not even looking for it. I highly recommend this trail for anybody looking to push the desk away for a while. Time for a bath! #hiking #theridgeway #theridgewaynationaltrail #getoutthere #intothewild
Note to self : Must get better at this Instagram lark. I have however, found the time to upload some photos of our most recent appointment. A nautical one this time, with a brief to design a Passive House replacement dwelling on the Suffolk Coast, along the water front of the River Deben in Waldringfield. The site sits upon a former cement works , with remnants of the kilns still remaining. Some early site sketching begins to explore the tapered and triangular forms of the old kilns and the array of boat masts which once populated / now populate the Quayside. Lots of sketching to come, and should be fun! #passivehouse #passivehousearchitect #passivehousearchitecture #passivehousearchitects #nourtical #ecoarchitecture #ecoarchitect #suffolkarchitecture #sustainablearchitectre
Kicking the year off with a brisk 🥶 survey with Chris from Gold Land Surveys today at Yew Tree Farm. This project looks to convert an existing outhouse and barn into a new energy efficient eco dwelling. #newproject #ecohouse #architecturesurvey #topographicalsurvey
🎄 Happy Christmas from Fen Studio 🎄 Wishing everyone a well deserved break full of hangovers, arguments over board games, rubbish tv and being woken by your own snoring after the Kings Speech. A guaranteed on the nice list to anyone who can spot the Christmas film reference. #happychristmas