Green architecture for a new build courtyard-style lodge in Newbury

Mick and Barbara own a family-run building business, Tillet Brothers, and owned a small plot of land they wanted to develop. The land was in a lovely, tucked away site in Newbury, Berkshire.

Tillet Brothers approached Absolute Architecture to collaborate on this sustainable home. We successfully designed and obtained planning consent for a 4-bedroom, courtyard-style green eco-home that was to be sold off plan and built as a small development.

Location: Newbury, Berkshire

Materials: The house is clad in board using Siberian Larch, with a natural slate roof. Internally, softwood roof trusses were exposed and white washed to create a Scandinavian style interior that is flooded with top light.

Clever aspects: The house is built to code 4 Sustainable Homes levels with a well-insulated, airtight skin and air source/underfloor heating. The house is clever in section, with a sunken ground floor and a top floor set partially in the roof and minimising the bulk of the building.

Friends on the project: Key partners and suppliers for this sustainable building design were:

• Tillet Brothers, who carried out the construction of their own development
• Kitchen Solutions in Caversham provided the kitchen
• Oakframedgarages.co.uk provided the garage and log store kit frame.

We love:  The eventual owners adored this house so much that they’ve asked us to design another home for them. This project was the first of future collaborations with Tillet Brothers, and we’re delighted that this build was more successful than we ever imagined.