Completed : 2024
TEAM
Architects: A-Zero Architects
Giles Bruce, Yasamin Arbabi
Structural Design: Studio Allen
Contractor: Blero Construction ltd
Photographs : Agnese Sanvito
Haunted House
London, UK,
When the client approach us in 2022, this property was derelict and had not been occupied in 10 years - there was evidence of arson and squatting. When we first visited it was Halloween and the house had been decorated by the community as the local haunted house – which was quite apt given its dilapidated condition.
The client’s brief was for the house to be brought back into use with the lowest carbon approach possible. Design decisions were a balance was between operational performance, embodied carbon, and the aim to preserve the architectural character of the original building – it had previously been a tenement, and the very quirky split staircase to was the only remaining feature of note.
A derelict building house has been completely reinvented as a low carbon exemplar. Unfortunately, the area now lacks a haunted house for next Halloween.
The existing cottage had been derelict for many years
Pragmatic performance.
The project’s embodied carbon is estimated at 530kgC02e/m2, within the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge Target for 2025. This was achieved mostly by prioirtising stucrual timber elements over steel and using natural insulating materials.
High levels of insulation and airtightness were provided throughout, with an emphasis on using vapour open construction to avoid interstitial condensation and damage to the original fabric. This was achieved through a diathonite render on the internal walls, and drylining with wood wool insulation and lime render internally. The suspended ground floor was reinstated with high levels of insulation, and the existing roof which was repaired rather than replaced, was retrofitted with both airtight membranes an high levels of insulation.
From an operational point of view the building achieves a 40% improvement over business as usual as defined by LETI Climate Emergency Retrofit Guide. This could have been lower, but given the planning and budgetary constraints, we are pleased with the result.
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