Sarah and Mike’s home is a modern interpretation of a Derbyshire Dales longhouse and houses three generations of their respective families. It was built to Passivhaus standards and to have minimal visual impact on its rural surroundings and featured in a September episode of Channel 4’s Grand Designs. The previous owners of their smallholding plot had multiple planning applications refused so the couple knew that they and their architect, Chesterfield’s Lomas + Mitchell, would have to come up with an exceptional design. ‘Our only option was to go for a Paragraph 79 application, which requires the house to be of architectural merit,’ says Mike. The resulting property amazes the couple every day.
‘We still can’t believe we live in such a wonderful building,’ says Sarah. ‘Waking up to breathtaking views in a house that is so cosy makes us smile.’
On the ground floor, a combination of floor-to-ceiling windows and a completely open-plan layout fills the house with sunlight and creates a feeling of space and tranquillity. A shared sitting room for Sarah and Mike’s mothers is known as the ‘lady chapel’ and its oversized windows provide spectacular views across the valley.
Energy efficiency, thermal performance and sustainability are all key when building to Passivhaus standards. The couple were also keen to meet the Royal Institute of British Architects 2030 Challenge targets for operational energy use, water usage and embodied carbon. Durability and security were also priorities.
Rationel AURAPLUS
‘We loved the look and feel of the Rationel AURAPLUS windows and doors,’ says Sarah. ‘Plus they offer good thermal performance and their predicted lifespan of over 80 years gives us the reassurance that the windows will be here for as long as we will.’
Colour choice
The couple also liked the range of colours on offer, choosing a clear lacquer for the inside frames and Quartz Grey cladding outside. ‘Internally the clear lacquer emphasises the quality and beauty of the wood frame.’
‘The windows are the stars of the show. The whole house feels full of light and life. The views are spectacular and in every room we feel part of the landscape, but without having to put a jumper on!’
Staffordshire firm and Rationel distributor Scene Windows supplied and installed the glazing on the project. The tricky installation involved transporting all the windows and doors down a narrow lane to the site. The sheer size of the units meant the team had to deploy a robot to lift them into place. ‘It worked liked a charm,’ says Mike. ‘In fact it was so professional and looked so effortless that it didn’t feature much on the Grand Designs episode, which is a great credit to everyone involved.’
Product information
Range: Rationel AURAPLUS – Timber/Aluminium clad Colour: RAL 7039 Quartz grey (external) Clear lacquer (internal)
