Anchorage Passive House

Pushing the boundaries of Passivhaus design and prefabricated construction, Anchorage is a carefully crafted home on the steep riverside in Wyre Piddle. The planning permission for this Passivhaus Plus standard house established the principle of residential use, while striving to use sustainable materials such as locally sourced stone and minimal use of cement.

Upside down living maximises the site, while the form contrasts a simple traditional aesthetic to the road elevation with a dynamic, angular and cantilevered river elevation, which is the south façade and takes full advantage of the sun and river views.

Designed by Habitat+ Architects, the building demonstrates the versatility of the Beattie timber frame build system, with overhangs, angles and a partial subterranean level. Helical piles avoid vibration damage to neighbouring listed structures, and gabions form a retaining structure which minimises the use of concrete and lowers the carbon footprint. Solar panels provide for energy use, including electric car charging, while the Passivhaus standard is met using a high airtightness, super-insulated thermal envelope with triple glazed windows and an MVHR system to avoid a space heating system.

This 3-bedroom home is versatile, innovative and future proofed, and pushes the boundaries of prefabricated Passivhaus construction.