NEW HOUSE AT 20 RATCLIFFE ROAD, LEICESTER

Seeking to re-locate to a more convenient and economical house suitable for retirement, Mrs Alexander looked at numerous refurbishment and new-build alternatives. There were no properties available suiting her requirements for reasonable living/entertaining space combined with a ground floor bathroom and bedroom plus additional space for visiting family members.

The solution was to divide the existing house and plot into two parts of half an acre each. The plot for the new house was largely covered in mature trees in a conservation area, but careful siting and selection allowed a limited number of trees to be felled without adversely affecting the quality of the area.

The felled trees were processed on site with a mobile saw mill and incorporated into the new timber building, mostly as green oak cladding boards. Some remaining trees were deliberately left close to the house. To preserve them and prevent movement of the clay soil affecting the structure, bored pile foundations with pre-cast beams were used. The foundations and a small brick plinth support a timber frame structure incorporating recycled newspaper insulation. Recycled slates were used for the roof. High performance windows and a solar panel help to keep energy consumption down, along with a condensing boiler and underfloor heating to the ground floor.

The siting of the house provides a tranquil woodland setting which is still open to South light within an urban environment.