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News
Clay Field, Elmswell
Orwell Housing’s exemplar housing project at Elmswell, designed by RHM Architects, provides 26 attractive sustainable homes built to Eco-Homes “Excellent” rating and considered to be equivalent of Code 4 code for Sustainable Homes.
Seamans Building was appointed Main Contractor on this Two Stage tender and was able to actively contribute ideas towards the design and buildability during the final design development stages.
The homes are heated via a single biomass boiler which fuels a district heating system for the whole site. Each dwelling has a ventilation system which extracts heat from the used air to temper the fresh incoming air.
The structures are timber framed and walls are highly insulated by the use of sprayed hemp/lime mix which is then lime rendered or overlaid with cedar boarding. Roofs have hemp insulation batts and are finished with Cedar Shingles. Store areas have sedum, green roofs; the scheme includes rainwater harvesting systems for flushing W.C’s and to supply outside taps.
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The buildings are designed to take advantage of solar heat gain in winter and can provide stack ventilation to alleviate heat gain in summer, utilising the open stairwells and electronically operated rooflights.
In addition to a large meadow/football area, the site has an Orchard which also incorporates children’s play equipment; there is a wild flower area and allotments for residents use.
This project has been recorded on DVD in “Field of Dreams”, has featured on Regional TV and has been visited by Kevin McCloud of Channel 4 “Grand Designs” fame. Clay Field has won a 2007 RIBA Housing Design Award, was a finalist for Inside Housings Sustainable Housing Award in the large social housing project category.
It also achieved “Highly Commended” status in the RICS Regional Awards for sustainability 2009.
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