This house, located in the county of Kent, takes advantage of the topography of the land to ‘blend in’ with the surrounding natural landscape.
Respect for the environment has always been a hallmark of the projects of the English studio Tye Architects. On this occasion, the construction of the detached house in the county of Kent had to be particularly innovative in terms of sustainable architecture.
“The size and layout of the building were important factors when considering its perfect integration into its surroundings. We decided to underground part of the main floor, reduce the entrance area and take advantage of the unevenness of the terrain to minimize the impact,” say Nicolas Tye, director of the studio, and Javier Poveda, architect and project manager.
This initial approach led them to select some of the natural stone products offered by Porcelanosa Grupo. “They have been a key part of this project: a building that connects with nature, but is also unique in its own right. The finishes in marble and limestone tones define the exterior appearance, with straight and simple shapes.
The exterior of the building is defined by the combination of stone textures. The ceramic flooring on the terrace (Rox New Beige) is laid over the Butech outdoor raised access floor system. The rooftop features a glazed rectangular space, shaded by the reflection of the surrounding trees. This accentuates the integration of the house into its surroundings. The façade is designed using natural stone from L’Antic Colonial with the ventilated façade system with concealed Butech clamp.
In the interiors, the continuity between the ample entry of natural light and the diaphanous spaces is achieved with the use of natural stone by L’Antic Colonial. The guest area is situated below the pool terrace, but the elevation of the plot means that it also has plenty of natural light.
Sustainable architecture
Nicolas Tye and Javier Poveda emphasise: “Sustainability and energy efficiency defined the design of the building. We had to minimize the ecological footprint of the construction and, at the same time, give our clients an efficient home that would last over time. Longevity and durability are key elements that define the environmental impact. Therefore, the built-up area and the disturbed landscape are concentrated on a small portion of the site.
To ensure energy efficiency, a new generation heat pump has been installed. It produces 3.5 times the amount of energy consumed. A mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery (MVHR) has also been installed, which allows for air renewal. In addition, an underfloor heating system has been installed. For the architects, “the use of natural stone allows us to be more efficient, as it reduces the heating potential of the house compared to what it would have had if we had used other more processed materials”.
The Sevenoaks House project is published in issue 44 of Porcelanosa Lifestyle magazine, which you can download in this link or consult in any of our showroom.
Architecture: Tye Architects
Photography: © Alex Keane Design
