New build custom ICF eco-house

New build ICF eco-house on a greenfield site in Derbyshire with a design that is optimised to soak up the fantastic views of the open countryside. Beneath the traditional appearance are modern methods of construction that create an extremely energy efficient building, that was also built quickly and cheaply.

The traditional design was inspired by the local stone buildings of Derbyshire and also further afield in the Cotswolds. Generous rooms are provided throughout so there is a lot of space for all the family. These include 4 decent double bedrooms and a separate children’s Play-room.

The frontage facing the public road is purposefully kept relatively small and discreet. Despite the restrained external appearance, the size of the property is deceptively large. The overall floor area is 316m² / 3401 sq. ft. High quality exterior materials included rendered walls above a stone plinth + oak framing and a stone slated roof. A bespoke timber front door was used + flush sash windows. The interior includes several items of custom carpentry which help to create high-quality hand-crafted interiors.

As height was restricted, we sunk the house into the ground and also lifted up the roof as high as possible. This helped create large rooms and high ceilings. The plot was also located in an area with historical mining so site investigations were required to prove the site was safe to build on.

The majority of the house is built from ICF [Insulated Concrete Formwork] which is relatively new system of construction, established in Germany in the 1940’s. The ICF system on this project uses panels made from recycled wood fibre + a thick layer of insulation. Fresh, clean air is provided by Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery [MVHR] throughout. It is expected that this highly energy efficient building will be close to PassivHaus standards.