The latest glimpse of what future housing could look like has been unveiled at BRE’s INSITE09.
TTJ was at the opening day of the expo to see the latest designs and technology which could influence new home building, including a £75k (build cost) timber frame house featuring a hemp-based concrete alternative to boost thermal efficiency without using conventional insulation.
The three-bedroom Renewable House, whose timber frame was supplied and erected by Advanced Timber Structures, is a new addition to the BRE’s Innovation Park and is designed to meet Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
Wilmott Dixon’s cross-laminated timber panel school concept has been turned into a “Community Healthcare Campus” this year, complete with self-diagnostics, a “pharmacy of the future” and a roof terrace incorporating a fitness and healthy food growing areas.
Paul Chandler, head of development at medical centre provider Primary Asset, said the company was looking for a “real life project” to deliver a cross-laminated timber centre. Its existing centres have been built using either masonry or timber frame.
Stewart Milne and Kingspan revealed some performance feedback for their respective existing Sigma and Lighthouse concept homes at the Innovation Park. The Sigma house was occupied by several families as part of testing.
“It is clear that the answer lies in improving future build systems, with a focus on airtight solutions, heating and ventilation systems and taking a ‘heart and lungs’ approach to the installation of services at the concept stage,” said Stewart Milne product development director Stewart Dalgarno.
Kingspan found that tannins from sweet chestnut cladding on its Lighthouse show home washed into the rainwater harvesting system, resulting in coloured water feeding into the washing machine and toilet flushing.
Two other new properties at the Innovation Park, using non-timber build systems, are yet to be completed.
