Old Rectory

Earth Sheltered Eco Home 

This innovative eco home demonstrates how contemporary sustainable architecture can be successfully introduced within the sensitive setting of a listed building.

Designed as an earth-sheltered dwelling, the project carefully responds to its historic context while delivering exceptional energy efficiency, low running costs and comfortable modern living.

The Brief

Our clients approached Allan Joyce Architects to explore the possibility of creating a new eco home within the grounds of their existing property.

Located within the setting of a Georgian listed building and neighbouring the Grade II* Listed St Nicholas Church, the site required a highly sensitive design approach. The challenge was to create a contemporary home that respected its historic surroundings while embracing the latest sustainable design principles.

Careful analysis of the site's natural topography revealed the opportunity to create an earth-sheltered home, allowing the building to blend into the landscape while significantly improving its thermal performance.

Designed Around Sustainability

The house is built into the landscape on three sides, using the surrounding earth to help regulate internal temperatures throughout the year. A fully glazed south-facing elevation acts as a passive solar collector, filling the home with natural light while capturing warmth during the winter months.

A generous roof overhang provides shade during the summer, preventing overheating, while high-level clerestory windows encourage natural ventilation by allowing warm air to escape.

The result is a home that remains comfortable throughout the seasons while using remarkably little energy.

Low-Energy Living

The building was designed using a fabric-first approach, with insulation levels significantly exceeding current Building Regulations and an exceptionally airtight building envelope.

A mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system provides a continuous supply of fresh air while recovering heat that would otherwise be lost. During the colder months, a log burner provides additional warmth, although the home requires very little supplementary heating thanks to passive solar gains and the excellent thermal performance of the building.

A sedum roof allows the property to blend naturally into its surroundings, softening views from the neighbouring Old Rectory and helping the building sit comfortably within the wider village landscape.

The clients are now considering adding photovoltaic panels to generate much of the small amount of electricity the home requires, further enhancing its environmental performance.

The Result

This project shows how sustainable architecture and sensitive design can work hand in hand.

By responding carefully to the landscape, respecting the surrounding heritage assets and embracing low-energy design principles, Allan Joyce Architects created a contemporary eco home that sits quietly within its historic setting while providing an exceptionally comfortable and efficient place to live.

"The team at Allan Joyce Architects provided us with great support throughout the whole project. They took our ideas on board and added their vision, technical expertise and experience, to help create our fantastic home."

Client