Archello Awards · Winners Announced
Archello Awards 2024 · Winners Announced
Archello Awards 2024
Winners Announced
Low-carbon, luxury new build home with a bespoke glazing package Story by IQ Glass UK Low-carbon, luxury new build home with a bespoke glazing package

Claywood House

Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt as Architects

Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt completes accessible family home for wheelchair user

Claywood House, a new 5-bedroom low-carbon home has been designed to meet the needs of a wheelchair dependant client and to create spaces that allow her to live independently. The new building is located within the orchard of the client’s previous home – a multi levelled building unsuitable for conversion (but retained and sold). The house is designed as a counterpoint to the original and with an architecture of contrast reflecting a ‘fresh start’ for the client and her family.

photo_credit Andy Matthews
Andy Matthews

The design celebrates the beautiful setting and builds into the landscape itself. The shape of the building responds to the complex geometry of the topography and the site boundary and works with the slope of the site to reduce the visual impact to the surrounding area. The house is cut away to direct views across the garden and away from the former home, creating sheltered living spaces and establishing a clear entrance. A privately accessed guest annex is located to the south of the site.

photo_credit Andy Matthews
Andy Matthews

Drawing inspiration from the nearby historic brickworks and clay pits, the earth bound ‘plinth’ is formed from a pale coloured, long-format brick. Chamfers and deep reveals express the depth and solidity of the ground floor, which contains the main living spaces, garage and pool area. A ‘lightweight’ slatted timber-clad form supported on the ‘heavy’ brick plinth, contains the bedrooms areas and annex. This element emerges from the trees with gaps that open in the slatted timber to reveal windows on the east and west façades. The timber slats are arranged in a rhythmic pattern designed to mimic the vertical trunks of the trees in the woodland opposite.

photo_credit Andy Matthews
Andy Matthews

Spaces have been designed to offer moments of delight for the whole family. Inclusive design features include specifically placed floor to ceiling and low windows which allow views into the gardens whether standing or seated. Wide corridors upstairs mean casual passing is easy, while recesses give ample room for extra wide turning circles and a place to rest and enjoy the morning sun. Flush thresholds blur the boundaries between inside and outside space, at the same time allowing for easy wheelchair access into the landscaped garden. Extra-large garage and generous storage areas keep wheelchairs easily accessed and tucked away. The new building is fully accessible with a lift and provides facilities for the specialist care required by the client including a physiotherapy pool, gym and carer’s suite. The house incorporates a ground source heat pump, a 12kw Photovoltaic array and a mechanical heat recovery ventilation system. Further, the building envelope is extremely well insulated and airtight thereby creating a highly sustainable new building.

photo_credit Andy Matthews
Andy Matthews

Accessible Design, Architect’s View: Dominic Gaunt, Director

I met Jo Wright and her family in 2015, a few years after she had sustained her spinal cord injury. Their home at the time, Nately Towers, a 4-storey gothic house, was completely impractical for Jo’s needs and would have been exceptionally difficult to retrofit and convert. They made the decision to start afresh with a new build and approached us about the feasibility of building a new home in the garden of the existing property.

photo_credit Jim Stephenson
Jim Stephenson

Claywood House is designed as a direct contrast to Nately Towers with its low, sleek form sunk into the landscape. The overarching architectural idea for the building was one of contrast – the most obvious example of this is seen in the contrast between the ground and first floor volumes which separate the living spaces and bedrooms. We developed the scheme closely with the client, her physiotherapist and specialist kitchen/ bathroom supplier, Motionspot. The new building is fully accessible with a lift and provides facilities for the specialist care required by the client.

photo_credit Jim Stephenson
Jim Stephenson

Jo was keen to use her love of swimming to keep fit and healthy. The pool at 14m long is sufficient for her to swim lengths but also wide enough for the family to enjoy socially. A resting point with a long, low window at eye level is provided along the length of the pool.

photo_credit Jim Stephenson
Jim Stephenson

Inclusive design features include specifically placed floor to ceiling and low windows which allow views into the gardens whether standing or seated. Wide corridors upstairs mean casual passing is easy, while recesses give ample room for extra wide turning circles and a place to rest and enjoy the morning sun. Flush thresholds blur the boundaries between inside and outside space, at the same time allowing for easy wheelchair access into the landscaped garden. Extra-large garage and generous storage areas keep wheelchairs easily accessed and tucked away.

Team:
Architect: Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt
Structural Engineers: Eckersley O’Callaghan
Contractor: R Durtnell& Sons until their demise in July 2019. Then client managed with site manager Larry Martin.
Sustainability & MEP: Mesh

photo_credit Jim Stephenson
Jim Stephenson
photo_credit Jim Stephenson
Jim Stephenson
photo_credit Jim Stephenson
Jim Stephenson

Material Used :
STRUCTURE: 
1. Steel works: Clarke Construction Essex 
2. Groundworks: MTD Formwork 
3. Brickwork: Randers Tegal Ultima from Taylor Maxwell
4. Energy services: Mesh Energy 
5. Swimming Pool: Pools by Design 
6. Ground Source Heat Pump:WDS Green energy
7. Solar PV panels: Spirit Energy 
8. Final surfaces: Georgian Complete Finishings
9. Plumbing: Tugwell Heating Co 
10. Electrics: TMS Electrical Contractors
11. Windows: IQ Glass
12. Garden Design & Build: Catherine MacDonald and Landform Consultants 
13. Driveway tarmac & bonded resin: L.A.Kattenhorn& Partners 
14. Gates: Penchards
15. Garage doors: Deuren
16. Door automation: Dormakaba 

FIXTURES & FITTINGS: 
1. Accessible kitchen design: Adam Thomas Consultancy
2. Kitchen build: Myers Touch 
3. Bathrooms: Motionspot 
4. Lift: Aritco (aritco.com); installed by Platinum Lifts 
5. Stoves: Focus Stoves
6. Tiles: Minoli 

FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES:
1. Living room rug & hall wall hanging: Helen Yardley
2. Dining table: &Bespoke
3. Sofas: Hitch Mylius

Read story in ItalianoDeutschPortuguêsFrançais and Español

Low-carbon, luxury new build home with a bespoke glazing package

IQ Glass UK as Windows

Claywood House, a new 5-bedroom low-carbon home in Hampshire, is a perfect example of combining unique materials, high-performance bespoke glazing and innovative green power sources to create a sustainable and accessible family home.

 

Splitting their two-acre plot of land in half, the client wanted the new home to contrast the existing one completely, so from the original design of a gothic home with turrets and a red brick exterior came this stunning modern home design with timber cladding, pale brickwork and a minimalistic glazing package.

 

Significant excavation was required to level the ground for this luxury new build home before the building could start, and space had to be dug for the home's new indoor physiotherapy pool. The home also has lift access and a clear entrance point for ease of access for all the homes occupants.

photo_credit Jim Stephenson Photography 
Jim Stephenson Photography 

Utilising a ground source heat pump, a 12kw photovoltaic array and a mechanical heat recovery ventilation system, this low-carbon home showcases exactly how a new home should be built, with the future in mind. IQ are always looking to utilise the latest advances in glazing technology to ensure the systems stand the test of time and will still perform just as well in 20 years' time.

 

Bespoke timber cladding was used for the upper floor of the home, designed to mimic the surrounding trees. The deep coloured wooden slats line the home in a rhythmic pattern, only disrupted by the frameless glazing which allows a vast amount of natural light into the internal living spaces.

 

Grand Designs interviewed the homeowners after the build, talking to them about how the design of the new home revolved around inclusive wheelchair user-friendly spaces, even down to the smallest details. From a lowered kitchen sink to an elevated washer and dryer, the architects on the job left no stone unturned when it came to a home that was usable for all members of the family.

photo_credit Jim Stephenson Photography 
Jim Stephenson Photography 

Internally, the home uses a mostly bright colour scheme to increase the perceived size of the space, which is also aided by the huge influx of natural light that enters through the glazing. Splashes of colour and dark feature walls help to bring depth and character to the interior spaces.

 

Intricate joinery can be seen around the home, and these delicate details bring the design to the next level creating a truly luxurious feel. And the placement of low windows and floor to ceiling glazing allows the sun's rays to highlight these interior design elements.

 

The bespoke glazing package from IQ glass included minimal windows Sliding Doors at multiple points around the home. This sliding door system is the perfect choice for this type of project as the flush thresholds are certified for barrier-free access under DIN 18040-1 and DIN 18040-2.

photo_credit Jim Stephenson Photography 
Jim Stephenson Photography 

The sliding door that was triple glazed and used the minimal windows 4+ framing profile was designed with the freeway base to maintain a completely flush threshold. This triple glazed sliding door system also included heated glass for condensation relief.

 

Wide corridors and open plan spaces allow the wheelchair dependent client to move around the house with ease and the flush threshold of the minimal windows sliding doors allows for easy access to the stunning garden space.

 

The east and west facing elevations of the upper floor both have floor to ceiling frameless picture windows, allowing the rooms to have clear views of the stunning landscape around the home whether you are seated or standing.

photo_credit Jim Stephenson Photography 
Jim Stephenson Photography 

Working alongside the architects, the team at IQ designed every aspect of the glazing with sustainability in mind. This specialist glazing package utilised a wide variety of systems including slim sliding doors, structural glazing, steel framed fire rated doors and frameless effect roof glazing.

 

Within the systems, innovative technical glazing solutions were utilised including solar control glassheated glass and low iron glass. The heated glass was essential for some parts of the home as it prevents condensation build-up, making it a popular choice for indoor pool areas such as this one.

 

All the sliding door systems were motorized to make them wheelchair user friendly. Our motorized sliding doors have a range of control options from a remote to integrating it with smart home automation. Being able to open floor to ceiling slim sliding doors at the push of a button enhances the usability of any space.

photo_credit Jim Stephenson Photography 
Jim Stephenson Photography 

For more information on the glazing systems used here or to discuss a glazing package for your next project, contact the IQ team today.

Project Spotlight
Product Spotlight
News
SPPARC completes restoration of former Victorian-era Army & Navy Cooperative Society warehouse
11 Dec 2024 News
SPPARC completes restoration of former Victorian-era Army & Navy Cooperative Society warehouse

In the heart of Westminster, London, the London-based architectural studio SPPARC has restored and r... More

Green patination on Kyoto coffee stand is brought about using soy sauce and chemicals
10 Dec 2024 News
Green patination on Kyoto coffee stand is brought about using soy sauce and chemicals

Ryohei Tanaka of Japanese architectural firm G Architects Studio designed a bijou coffee stand in Ky... More

New building in Montreal by MU Architecture tells a tale of two facades
10 Dec 2024 News
New building in Montreal by MU Architecture tells a tale of two facades

In Montreal, Quebec, Le Petit Laurent is a newly constructed residential and commercial building tha... More

RAMSA completes Georgetown University's McCourt School of Policy, featuring unique installations by Maya Lin
10 Dec 2024 News
RAMSA completes Georgetown University's McCourt School of Policy, featuring unique installations by Maya Lin

Located on Georgetown University's downtown Capital Campus, the McCourt School of Policy by Robert A... More

MVRDV-designed clubhouse in shipping container supports refugees through the power of sport
9 Dec 2024 News
MVRDV-designed clubhouse in shipping container supports refugees through the power of sport

MVRDV has designed a modular and multi-functional sports club in a shipping container for Amsterdam-... More

Archello Awards 2025 expands with 'Unbuilt' awards categories
9 Dec 2024 Archello Awards
Archello Awards 2025 expands with 'Unbuilt' project awards categories

Archello is excited to introduce a new set of twelve 'Unbuilt' project awards for the Archello Award... More

Kinderspital Zürich by Herzog & de Meuron emphasizes role played by architecture in the healing process
6 Dec 2024 News
Kinderspital Zürich by Herzog & de Meuron emphasizes role played by architecture in the healing process

The newly completed Universtäts - Kinderspital Zürich (University Children’s Hospita... More

Fonseka Studio crafts warm and uplifting medical clinic space in Cambridge, Ontario
5 Dec 2024 News
Fonseka Studio crafts warm and uplifting medical clinic space in Cambridge, Ontario

In Cambridge, Ontario, the Galt Health family medical clinic seeks to reimagine the healthcare exper... More