Residential
South Tottenham, 2023
112 m² / 1,206 ft²
A deep retrofit of a cold, leaky and uninspiring 1970s building using predominantly natural, local or recycled materials has led to a warm, low-energy and fossil fuel free home, with future resilience and enabling more self-sufficiency for the family.
The ground floor was remodeled to an open-plan layout, bringing the small garage and porch into the thermal envelope. Expanded insulative cork wraps around the exterior walls; chosen for its textural beauty, minimal build-up (no synthetic meshes), and regenerative farming practices.
Collaboration between the interior-designer client, ROAR and an energy consultant was essential.
Thick cork and softly rounded edges make a striking presence on the street yet the house is not imposing; smaller than surrounding buildings, it is warm, welcoming and open to the street. The cork exterior engages passers-by, sparking questions and conversations about the natural, regenerative material.
A decision was taken early not to extend the property, but to make good use of what was already there, spending budget predominantly on infrastructure and technical performance; removal of gas supply, installation of an air-source heat pump, underfloor heating, new doors and windows, cork cladding, extensive insulative work, and a huge endeavor to improve air-tightness.
‘We are so grateful to the team of architects and consultants who have helped us achieve our cosy home. Their support and expertise has been invaluable. We hope to share our journey and learnings with others to encourage a shift towards the use of more natural building materials and making homes more energy efficient now for the benefit of future generations.’
Nina, client
Working directly with the Portuguese cork manufacturer, good use was made of their technical knowledge to deliver this low-carbon solution. Internally, a 60mm layer of lime plaster containing cork granules insulates one wall that could not be accessed from outside. Details were continuously developed and refined with the energy consultant’s input, to aim for optimum performance.
The joinery was fabricated ultra-locally using bespoke tri-ply board, made in the UK from British Douglas Fir. The monolithic island is formed from rescued London plane, a tree felled by Camden Council. Recycled plastic forms a beautiful and practical countertop on the sink side. Pine floorboards that were removed for structural works were saved and reworked into ceiling cladding.
Original PVC double-glazing, warped and ineffective, was replaced with a combination of triple-glazing, and glazing with innovative suspended film technology with a superior u-value.
The cork cladding should last for 15-25 years at which point the plan is to render over it with lime giving it a fresh look and protecting the insulation for many more years.
The open-plan space suits the young family, there’s room to dance and it’s great for having friends with children around too. But the U-shape layout with a sofa round each end also creates a zoned feeling to the space that allows for a degree of separation.
Lime-based plaster was opted for as far as the budget could stretch, using up leftovers from the parge coat beneath the cork for some internal walls. Leaving the internal plasters exposed was an aesthetic and budget-friendly choice. Sealed with a VOC-free transparent glaze, there is the opportunity to paint one day.
