Larch Corner

About this project

Designed by Mark Siddall at LEAP Architecture, Larch House is an extremely airtight, 3-bedroom single storey home. Certified to Passivhaus standards, the team minimised carbon emissions both by building to the Passivhaus standard and using sustainably sourced timber throughout. At the time of testing, it was the UK’s most airtight home.

A calming sense of space

Laid out across a single storey, the comfortable blonde wood interior is light-filled and minimalist, offering a calming sense of space throughout. Deep window reveals and eaves help the home to stay cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal heating. Ceiling heights help to define the spaces, with higher ceilings for the open plan family rooms and lower ceilings for bedrooms.

Space heating and hot water is delivered via an air source heat pump. Electricity is provided by photo-voltaic panels and the property benefits from a sedum roof.

Use of Timber

Larch Corner is built from sustainably sourced timber inside and out. It features a cross-laminated timber structure, woodfibre insulation, external Larch cladding and triple glazed Redwood timber windows and doors.

Why is it a Low-Carbon Case Study?

The Passivhaus standard shows how to reduce carbon emissions by cutting a building’s operational energy requirements to the absolute minimum. The excellent u-values of the building fabric together with high levels of airtightness at Larch Corner keep the heating demand well below that required to meet the Passivhaus standard.

In addition, architect and Passivhaus designer Mark Siddall has calculated that the choice of an all-timber construction method over more traditional masonry has resulted in a reduction in embodied carbon of 40%.

Awards

Finalist for the Association of Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) Awards 2020

Shortlisted for Structural Timber Awards - Custom / Self Build Project of the Year 2019

All images: Mac Eye Projects Ltd