Claffey House

Claffey House is located on the western slopes of the Malvern Hills in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

The site enjoys elevated panoramic views across the rolling Herefordshire landscape to the west and a British Iron Age hill fort to the south.

The immediate site lies within Perrycroft Lodge Estate and includes a group of Voysey designed listed buildings originally associated with Perrycroft House (1893-94) as well as a number of low grade agricultural sheds.

In this remarkable context the Claffey’s brief was to design a carbon neutral, low environmental impact 3 bedroom house incorporating stables. The building was to replace the uppermost shed maximising views whilst the remaining sheds were demolished and the landscape restored.

The design of the new house is purposefully set apart from the group of listed buildings and set into the hillside below a bluebell coppice of Scotts Pine and Silver Birch serving as a back garden.

Oak cladding wraps around an extensive area of triple glazing to the living areas embracing the panoramic views and elevated above a grounded stone base incorporating lower entrance, stables, garaging and plant.

Through research and discussion, the design has been developed to embody a range of low environmental impact measures. This has been verified by a BREEAM Ecohomes Pre-Assessment which gave a rating of excellent and through detailed calculation (using DCLG software and SAP energy rating) of a zero carbon output in operation.

Measures include:
•Passive solar design: Southwest glazing, overhanging eaves, thermal mass, cross ventilation
•Super insulated, triple glazed
•A rated, Green Guide to Housing construction: low carbon , low ozone depletion and responsibly resourced materials
•Maximised daylight
•Increased ecological value of site
•75m2 photo voltaic array to provide an annual energy yield of 6820kwh/year connected to grid, balancing electricity consumption.
•Efficient central computer control
•Low energy lighting
•Low water consumption: rainwater harvest, low flush toilets
•Composting toilets
•Ground source heat pump: hot water pre-heat and under floor heating
•Recycling facilities
•Home office
Design Team Aedas Architects Manchester
Crookes Walker Consulting M&E Engineers
Carly Tinkler Landscape Architect
Scott Wilson Ecohomes Assessor
Robert Jolley Planning Consultant
AHD CGI Imaging