Evesham Passivhaus

A Passivhaus development expressing a modern twist on existing housing stock

This scheme responds to the raised site position and views over the rooftops of the River Avon valley. It was important to take full advantage of this as well as ensuring we gained South facing aspect to all apartments to achieve the most efficient Passivhaus design. The orientation demands worked hand in hand allowing a Freiburg inspired layout of front to back structures each with a sunny balcony space facing onto the fantastic views. With large sliding doors this creates a connection between inside and outside, a sought after amenity in the town centre location.

The strong design concept of the slatted blinds has been developed from the requirement of solar shading. The idea was that occupants could re-position the panels in response to sun movement as well as for privacy creating an ever changing façade.

In contrast, to the rear of the buildings we wanted to reflect the eclectic local architecture, the most prominent of which is the Tudor style cladding. We thought to amalgamate this with the industrial tones brought from the riverside locations and create a vertical timber cladded façade with regimented spacing rhythmic of industrial construction.

Another site constraint demanded the replacement of all car parking places currently on the disused site. We therefore allowed for an under croft car park with penetrating sky lights to allow natural daylight into the parking void. We could then create a landscaped communal courtyard between the blocks, again enhancing the amenity space for residents.

It was important to achieve cross ventilation capability within each property to counter act risk of overheating. This dictated the core and block positions. The benefit of this being that every unit has double aspect living accommodation, a rarity in flatted central developments.

Overall the design displays a modern twist on the existing housing stock whilst still expressing influence from the surrounding vernacular. This is a unique development with integrity to its advanced performance and function as a Passivhaus.