mixenden ecohouse

Mixenden ecohouse is located in west Yorkshire on the edge of a green belt area.

The design is driven by the relationship with the greenbelt and the proximity to a traditional stone dwelling to the north of the site.

The buildings facades are designed to respond to and reflect their surroundings - the area adjacent to the neighbouring house is constructed in traditional stonework with white render to lighten the courtyard garden, whilst the elevation facing out onto the hillside utilises western red cedar cladding which will weather and blend into the natural surroundings.

The design utilises a passive solar strategy to minimise heating and lighting costs, a huge window faces east overlooking the valley, capturing the suns heat in the morning and releasing it slowly during the day. A west facing wedge shaped clerestory window picks up the sun in the late afternoon allowing the warm light to wash the internal walls.

The building is highly insulated and has a green roof to form a relationship with the hillside beyond. The calculated heating and lighting costs for a whole year are less than £200