The brief was to design a new-build property to be built on land adjacent to the client’s existing house in a contemporary style.

The project would incorporate energy saving features such as solar water heating, rain water collection and re-use, large thermal mass for levelling variations in internal temperature, very high insulation levels and specific window design to take advantage of passive solar gain.

The internal design revolves around a double-height dining area incorporating large blank walls.

Externally the design has to respect the fabric of the suburban Conservation Area, adjacent to the River Mersey, in which it is to be built, consisting of a large number of detached and semi-detached Victorian villas. This meant that particular attention had to paid to the size and distribution of windows and the materials to be used.