Muswell Hill House: The Sustainable home that's turning heads
Located in the London suburb, the Muswell Hill House is a sustainable home that effortlessly combines energy efficiency with chic modernity.
Photos: Lorenzo Zandri and Christian Brailey
Muswell Hill House is a stunning example of sustainable home design, blending timeless aesthetic appeal with energy efficiency and comfort. Designed by Architects for London, the home is influenced by the roughcast render and radius details of local Edwardian domestic architecture, resulting in a visually appealing design that fits seamlessly into the surrounding neighborhood.
"Small budgets are crucial to scaling sustainable design efforts nationally."
- Ben Ridley, Director, Architecture for London
A neutral palette of timber, textured lime plaster, and natural stone was carefully selected for both their visual qualities and their low embodied energy. The home was designed to achieve Passivhaus certification, with very high levels of insulation, airtight construction, triple glazing throughout, and mechanical ventilation. In addition to these energy-efficient features, the Muswell Hill House is also fossil fuel-free, thanks to an air-source heat pump that provides both space heating and hot water.
Designing with a purpose
The Muswell Hill House's beautiful design is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also an important part of its sustainability. The use of natural materials like timber, textured lime plaster, and natural stone helps to reduce the home's embodied energy, while also adding to its timeless appeal. The architects also added a rear extension and a loft conversion to the original Edwardian terrace, while still preserving the home's original facade. This careful balance of modern updates and historical preservation results in a home that feels both contemporary and grounded in its surroundings.
Photos: Lorenzo Zandri and Christian Brailey
Home that's easy to be in
One of the most rewarding aspects of designing the Muswell Hill House was the creation of a comfortable home that is easy to be in. The low-energy standards of the home, including its insulation, airtight construction, and mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system, help to create a consistent temperature throughout the home and eliminate drafts, making features such as the kitchen window seat inviting even on the coldest days.
This, along with the use of natural materials and plenty of natural light, makes the Muswell Hill House a truly comfortable and inviting place to live.
Designed by Architects for London, the home is influenced by the roughcast render and radius details of local Edwardian domestic architecture, resulting in a timeless and visually appealing design.
Overcoming adversity
While the design and construction of the Muswell Hill House was a rewarding experience, it was not without its challenges. The construction took place during covid lockdowns, which resulted in material supply issues and labor shortages. However, the team was able to overcome these challenges and successfully complete the project, thanks to careful planning and open lines of communication with all stakeholders, including neighbors.
This experience serves as a valuable lesson for other projects, highlighting the importance of being flexible and adaptable in the face of unexpected challenges.
From dark to bright
One of the most unique and noteworthy features of the Muswell Hill House is the large window at the rear of the property, which allows sunlight to pour into the living space and transforms the once-dark front reception room. The removal of the downstairs ceiling to expose the original timber structure of the house also gives a sense of heightened volume and space, making it a truly special and memorable feature. These design choices not only add to the aesthetic appeal of the home, but also contribute to its overall comfort and sustainability.
"The front reception room in particular received very little natural light. To improve this, the living space was opened, allowing sunlight to pour across the ground floor through the large window at the rear of the property."
- Ben Ridley, Director, Architecture for London
A sustainable masterpiece
The Muswell Hill House is a truly impressive achievement in sustainable home design. It shows that it is possible to create a beautiful and comfortable home that is also highly energy efficient and sustainable, even on a constrained budget. Its combination of timeless aesthetic appeal, energy efficiency, and comfort makes it a model for others to follow and sets a new standard for sustainable home design.
The design team's careful consideration of both embodied energy and energy in-use, as well as their ability to overcome challenges and balance aesthetics with practicality, are all key lessons for other projects. Overall, the Muswell Hill House is a testament to the possibilities of sustainable home design and a source of inspiration for others looking to create a more sustainable and livable home.
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