Property Development: Remodelling & New-Build Construction

West Street, Dorking, Surrey

Scope of Role: Initial feasibility, detailed design and planning application

A bespoke design for a constrained town-centre courtyard site, with the intention of creating a low-energy, comfortable small family home. It evolved as an up-side-down arrangement with the bedrooms at ground floor, and the living accommodation enjoying town-wide views from the first floor, with additional natural light from roof windows. Its super-structure is a highly insulated timber frame, with light-weight timber and render cladding. It is heated via an air-to-water heat pump, distributed via underfloor pipework. Its roof cladding was intended to have a sedum-covering, but this was omitted due to budget constraints late in the programme, but a small bank of solar PV panels was included to off-set some of the electrical-loading of the dwelling’s operation. The efficient form-factor of the building’s arrangement contributes to its energy efficiency and thermal-bridging was reviewed in detail during the design and construction stages, all resulting in a comfortable family home.