The Black House
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Situated on the Fen looking west towards Ely Cathedral the home is distinctive for its deep black corrugated cladding and barn-like quality
The house is oriented east-west with the principal orientation across open fields. A timber-slatted brise-soleil to the ground floor shades windows from low sun, with solar film to first-floor windows preventing overheating. Finishes are generally plastered walls and translucent-stain timber joinery.
On the ground floor, large glazed doors open on to a timber-decked western terrace. Upper floors are reached by a top-lit stair with glass balustrades. These upper floors provide bedrooms plus workrooms.
Black House is on 10m piles, the visible brick piers on pile caps linked by a ring beam of glulam, on which the building sits. With walls of timber I-beams, with recycled newspaper insulation, the house is highly insulated. A heat-pump system with heat recovery provides hot water and warm-air heating, backed up by small panel radiators.
Data
- Begun: Oct 2001
- Completed: Dec 2001
- Floor area: 154m2
- Sector: House
- Total cost: £174,589
- Tender date: Mar 2001
- Procurement: Self-build/JCT Minor Works
- Address: The Black House, Prickwillow, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 4UL, United Kingdom
Professional Team
- Architect: Mole Architects
- Client: Private
- Design engineer: Building Structure Workshop
- Structural engineer: Jjo Associates
- Energy Consultant: Martyn Gamble
- Engineer: Built Engineers
Suppliers
- Groundworks: Mead Construction
- Piling Contractor: Central Piling
- Insulated timber frame contractor : Eden Frame
- Insulation: Warmcell