As part of our 30th anniversary celebrations we published a book to tell our story and showcase some of the fantastic projects we have been lucky enough to be involved with over the years. Click here or on the image below to read the book!
gcp 30th Anniversary Book
Othery Housing
Our project for 6 new family homes at Othery Somerset, was handed over in December and is now occupied. A rural exception scheme located adjacent to a busy road on the edge of the village, the development was granted planning in July 2016 after extensive consultation with the Parish Council and Local Planning Authority. An innovative construction method was used in the construction and following completion of highway improvements, the houses were constructed swiftly to a high standard by Man Green Solutions.
gcp developed early energy modelling and assisted in developing an innovative solution to energy efficiency in the new homes which include high performing building fabric combined with simple systems for heating and hot water. The innovative ‘Velox’ Insulated Concrete Formwork construction system means the homes are highly insulated and achieve an airtightness of 0.99 m3/m2/h – well above the standards of conventional construction. As a result, heating demand is minimised, making simple electric heating efficient and cost effective.
Each home is provided with a large Photovoltaic array at roof level, providing free electricity for heating and hot water. The house systems include smart energy management and battery storage to ensure all energy generated by the Photovoltaic panels will be used in the home (rather than being exported to grid as is common). This means the tenants will enjoy warm and comfortable homes and should have near zero energy costs for heating and hot water.
South Western Housing Society will monitor costs and performance of the homes and it is hoped this project could be a model for more low energy homes for the future.
https://www.swhs.org.uk/news/upcoming-events/swhs-othery-development-opening
Othery Housing
Othery Housing
Dundry Passivhaus Airtightness Testing
Our latest PassivHaus project, a private house in an exposed location at Dundry completed first stage airtightness testing before Christmas. This is a key stage for PassivHaus projects, testing airtightness on the building envelope before starting second fix. Ensuring the building is adequately airtight at this stage should ensure that final airtests are likely to be achieved.
The PassivHaus requirement is 0.6 ac/h. Testing carried out by Paul Jennings of ALDAS showed the building flew through this stage, achieving 0.3 ac/h - a testament to the (self-build) client’s attention to detail and the robustness of the ICF construction method.
Elizabeth House, London SW1
Detailed planning has been submitted by gcp Chartered Architects for the redevelopment of a 1960’s office building in the heart of the city of London, just off High Holborn.
The project comprises of adding two new floors on top of a four-storey concrete framed building on an extremely confined site accessed via a doorway off High Holborn 2.5m wide and 5.2m high. The challenge of this limited access has driven all the design decisions for the scheme.
The project for Courtenay Investments Limited will be developed to CAT A Standards and will feature 16,700 sq ft of office space over 6 floors designed to offer maximum flexibility in letting. It will be a significant improvement on the current very tired building that offers only 11,500 sq ft of poor quality office space.
The scheme is due to start on site in Spring 2018 with a planned completion by December 2019.
Elizabeth House, London SW1
Elizabeth House, London SW1
