One of the most airtight buildings in the world, Larch Corner is almost entirely timber-based above its slab. That includes the insulation and cladding: it’s a cosy Passivhaus that truly is a forever home for the client and his family.
LocationWarwickshire
Gross Internal Floor Area167 m²
ArchitectLEAP
Project TypePrivate
Building TypeHouse
Structural EngineerAlan Clarke
Main ContractorMac Eye Projects
Joinery ContractorMac Eye Projects
Wood SupplierNovatop
Product InfoCross laminated timber system: Spruce; Novatop, Czech Republic I-beams: Steicojoist engineered timber External timber cladding: Siberian larch, Russia Wood fibre insulation: Pavatex and Steico Zell Window frames: Redwood Internal doors: Spruce CLT; Novatop, Czech Republic Internal door frames: locally sourced Oak, England
Timber SpeciesSpruce; Larch; Redwood; Oak
Timber ElementsTimber frame; Window frames; Cladding; Internal doors; Flooring
Upfront carbon emissions (A1-A5)298 kgCO2e/m²
Stored biogenic carbon300 kgCO2e/m²
Operational energy (B6)21 kWh/m²/yr
Airtightness at 50pa0.047 m³/hr/m²
Overall area-weighted U-value0.34
Design life100 years
Structural materials usedConcrete slab, XPS (extruded polystyrene) raft, Novatop mass timber frame
The house, constructed to PassivHaus standard, uses a mass timber frame system by Novatop, based in the Czech Republic. Its larch cladding is protected by a deep overhanging eaves with open ended gutters that throw rainwater away from the house. The cladding will weather to a striking silvery grey, whilst the sedum roof supports biodiversity.
Internally, voluminous spaces and minimalist detailing combine to create a simple, calming and uncluttered sense of space. A bank of cross laminated timber (CLT) panels, with playfully mounted surface level LED strip lights, conceals a voluminous storage wall.
The client wanted a three-bedroom house that would suit his day-to-day lifestyle while also accommodating visits from his family and grandchildren.
Screwed together using some 21,000 screws, it should prove to be more than just a forever home: many of its materials could be kept for reuse at the end of its life.
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