New Eco Housing, Sudbourne Park, Suffolk

Design & Access Statement
New Eco Housing, Sudbourne Park, Suffolk
Sanei Hopkins Architects
December 2010
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Contents
Location 3
The Site 4
The Walled Garden 6
A Working Garden 7
The Evolviing Walled Garden 8
A Brownfield Site 9
Recent Restoration 10
Inception 11
Horticultural Houses 12
Options Appraisal 13
Walled Garden Housing 14
Southern Range Housing 15
Comparative Analysis 16
Sustainability Appraisal 18
Local Planning Requirements 20
Aerial Perspective 22-23
Walled garden Housing 24-25
Southern Range Housing 26-27
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LOCATION
Sudbourne is a village near to Orford and Aldeburgh
in the Suffolk Coasts and Heaths Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty.It stretches from Sudbourne Beach on
Orfordness across the Alde and Ore Estuary and fresh
water marshes to farmland, Captain’s Wood and Tunstall
Forest.
The Walled Garden
The centre of the village, including the Village Hall
lies on the road from Snape to Orford, while the parish
church is set in the fields to the east of this road
and there are cottages and farms scattered along the
lanes. In the fields can be seen pigs, horses and donkeys
and even Highland cattle as well as crops. Down
on the marshes are sheep and cattle.
The population of Sudbourne is around 300.
Although there are no longer any shops or pubs there
is a lively community centred around the Village Hall,
the Parish Church and the Baptist Chapel.
Opposite to the church lies the drive to Sudbourne
Park, where the remaining buildings of a large
estate have been turned into an attractive set of
homes and thriving offices and light-industrial use.
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The Site
Introduction
The proposal is for enabling development for
the restoration of the walled garden and the
historic landscape of Sudbourne Park as described
in the Landscape Partnership’s enabling
development report and conservation/management
plan.
The walled garden lies to the west of the
original stable blocks and to the east of Bothy
Yard. The stable blocks have been converted
into individual flats whereas Bothy Yard consists
o a series of small comercial units. On the s/w
corner of the site lies Bothy House which is a
two storey brick dwelling.
The walled garden itself measures 130m long
by 60m wide. It has an east/west orientation
which would increase it’s southern exposure
hence reducing the chance of any structures
inside it from overshadowing each other.
The eastern most part of the walled garden is
not included within this proposal as it has been
leased to the residents of the already restored
and converted stable blocks.
Currently, access into the walled garden is via
two main entry points on the west side, from
Bothy Yard, and from the south. There is a small
doorway into the walled garden in the middle
of the north wall.
Inside the walled garden there are remnants of
an old greenhouse and a circular water collector.
The remains of the original victorian lean-to
green houses and potting sheds are outside
the southern wall on the west side however
there are no remains of the greenhouses that
originally existed on the opposite side.
The perimeter brick walls are in poor condition
and their demise is inevitable unless they are
restored.
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The Walled Garden
Our research at the Orford Museum has unearthed
some photo’s of the original Victorian
greenhouses as they were during the second
world war and their respective uses.
Most of the land at Sudbourne Park was
ploughed up to grow crops at that time and
there were at least 4 members of the WLA
(womans land army) living on site.
There was also a great deal of military activity
at Sudbourne Park. The 43rd Royal Tank Regiment
were under canvas in the parkland for
part of the time and the officers lived in Sudbourne
Hall itself.
The top picture shows the two flanking
greenhouses to the southern entrance which
also housed the boilers. The middle left hand
picture shows two members of the WLA infront
of one of the original ranges inside the walled
garden.The bottom pictures show historic
aerial images after the part demolition of the
external ranges.
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A Working Garden
Here is a plan of Sudbourne Hall Gardens in the
1930’s reproduced with kind pemisison of the
Orford Museum
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The Evolving Walled Garden
We have obtained copies of old ordnance
survey plans of the walled garden. One of
these maps dates as far back as 1607. All of
which together provide an accurate record of
the evolutions and the location and size of the
greenhouses, boiler houses and potting sheds
both inside and outside the walled garden.
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A BROWN-FIELD SITE
We plotted the footprints of the original greenhouses
to get a better understanding of what
area of land both within and around it had
been previously occupied by greenhouses.
(albeit not all at the same time)
We have calculated the gross area of greenhousing
to have existed within and around the
walled garden to be approximately 2629 sqm.
(28,235 sqft)
This gives us a good understanding of the scale
of development the site had already acommodated
as a single storey form.
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Recent Restoration
Sudbourne Hall itself was demolished after
1945 as it had fallen into a state of disrepair
during its occupation by the military during
the war and was beyond economical repair.
The remaining buildings at sudbourne Park
have abeen restored to a very high standard
which has lent the estate a new lease of life.
The Eastern Wing, Stable blocks and Game Larder
have been converted to private residences
and the buildings in Bothy Yard have been
converetd to light industrial / office use.
The restoration of the old fabric has proven
to be extremely successful and has created a
small community within the grounds of Sudbourne
Park.
The proposed new housing is a logical and
necessary addition which will gurantee the
future survival and sustainability of the natural
landscape and parkland of Sudbourne Park.
It sits within the context of the former greenhouses,
stables and commercial buildings.
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Inception
EARLY THOUGHTS
An earlier scheme in 2007 had evolved which
responded to the scale and massing of the
village of Sudbourne. Following a presentation
of these prelimnary ideas to the LPA, the approach
was abandoned due to the amount of
development.
POOR EXAMPLES
During our research we came across a few
examples of contemporary housing within
walled gardens. We did not find these inspiring
nor did we think their approach was particularly
appropriate. This encouraged us to try and
develop a language which grows out of the
heritage of the garden itself............
that of horticulture.
A BETTER EXAMPLE
We came across a development within a grade
II listed setting in Westonbirt, which seemed to
be more appropriate in terms of its form and
scale within the setting of the walled garden.
We believe the ‘Amount’ of developmentwas
rather exagerated. The use of the roof space for
bedrooms and a subteranean swimming pool
seemed wholly inappropriate to the setting.
TESTING A MODEL
We tested the two storey ‘Sudbourne Village’
type we had developed in our earlier proposal
but as 4 no detached houses. It quickly became
apparent that the two storey approach
was wrong and that the houses within the
walled garden should not be visible from the
outside. The ultimate charm of a walled garden
is the sense of mystery......
Where was the clue we were looking for?
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Horticultural Houses
PRECEDENT
We had sought to find a precedent for housing
within walled gardens. There are very few
examples of such a typology but the ones we
have found all seem to stem from a language
that appears alien in the context of the walled
garden.
A DIFFERENT APPROACH
We have gone back to first principles and studied
the typology that one would expect to find
within a walled garden...that of Victoian green
houses.
Victorian greenhouses were finely engineered
yet inventive and playful structures with a
rational grid and logical construction. They are
predominantly single storey and are of course
covered in glass. Their structure utilises both
timber and iron depending on the size and
type of greenhouse.
The proposed new housing at the walled
garden borrows heavily from the built form of
greenhouses, utilises both geometric and material
characteristics in a endeavour to not only
create a new language for building within and
adjacent to a walled garden, but also respond
to context and scale.
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Options Appraisal
INTERNAL HOUSES
We had very quickly established that a two storey
structure inside the walled garden would
be wrong. Part of the charm of a walled garden
is the sense of mystery about what might on
the inside. A two storey structure would be
visible from outside the walld garden and we
deemed it to be inappropriate.
We returned to the site looking for further
clues. The simplicity and form of the only
delapidated greenhouse on site and the
remnants of the potting sheds on the outside
hinted at a possible shape and form for the two
types of houses.
DEVELOPING A TYPOLOGY
A series of options were tested against criteria
such as orientation, scale, massing and proximity
to each pther and the garden wall and the
final scheme evolved steadily form this process.
We opted for a linear solution with an integral
‘greenhouse’ at it’s ‘heart’. This would be the
means of access and ingress but would also
act as a green horticultural centre of the house;
separating the sleeping quarters and the living
quarters.
The housing on the southern range was
simpler to derive as the profile of the original
greenhouses lend themselves to creating a
dwelling with a predominantly southern aspect.
This housing type occupies the footprint
of the original southern range greenhouses.
The main living spaces and the main bedroom
would face south and the ancillary accommodation
and spare rooms would be located
in the position of the original potting sheds to
the rear.
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Walled Garden Housing
AMOUNT
This element of the scheme commprises 4no
detached houses with a GIA of 220sqm plus
an internal greenhouse space of 36sqm. The
total area of the proposed houses inside the
walled garden is 1025sqm. This compares with
an estimated 1415sqm of greenhouse that had
existed inside the walled garden over the years.
LAYOUT
The houses are arranged in the western half of
the walled garden as far away as possible from
the residential stable-block. The space inbetween
it and the stable block will be conserved
and cultivated as a communal garden to
benefit the whole communty and also acts as a
visual buffer between the new and old developments.
SCALE
The proposed courtyard houses are marginally
taller than the existing dilapidated greenhouse
inside the walled garden but will not be visible
from outside due to the overall height of
the ridge which is only approximately 300mm
higher than the top of the garden brick walls.
LANDSCAPE DESIGN
The axial alignment of the walled garden has
been retained, internal boundary treatment
and planting design reflect the horticultural
traditions of Sudbourne Park.
APPEARANCE
The restrained palette consists of timber, glass
covering and a fine brise soleil necklace to
provide shading to the west facing glass wall.
Brick will be used sparingly to ‘accent’ parts of
the facade and to provide thermal mass inside
the glazed ‘heart’.
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Southern Range Housing
AMOUNT
This element of the scheme commprise 5no
terraced houses in separate blocks of 3 on
the western side and 2 on the eastern side
of the south range. They each have a GIA of
196sqm which includes an internal garage.
The total area of the proposed houses outside
the walled garden is 784sqm. Ths compares
with an estimated 1215sqm of southern range
greenhouse that we know existed outside the
walled garden not that long ago
LAYOUT
These houses occupy the fooprint of the
original southern range greenhouses and have
integral garages.
SCALE
The profile of these houses mimicks the original
lean-to victorian structures. The main living
areas and master bedroom face the south
whilst the utility and spare rooms face the
north.
LANDSCAPE DESIGN
The alignement preserves and strengthens the
historic axes both along the southern wall and
into the walled garden.. These axes are reinforced
by planting and boundary treatment.
APPEARANCE
The houses will have a restrained palette of
timber and glass with minimal extruded aluminium
section for the glass roof and powder
coated brise soleil to provide shading to the
south facing windows. Brick will be used sparingly
to ‘accent’ parts of the facade but the
predominant material will be oak cladding.
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Comparative Analysis
A visual comparison of the previously exis ting
greenhouses and the current enabling development
provides a good benchmark for what
may constitute an appropriate level of develoment
withing the setting of the walled garden
in terms of amount, layout, scale, landscape
design and appearance.
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Comparative Analysis
These selection of paired views, show the probable
historic scale and massing of the previoulsy
developed greenhouses compared with
our current proposal.
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SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL
The eco houses at Sudbourne Park reflect the horticultural heritage of the site and make varying references
to the use of the sun by the greenhouses for growth and generating energy. The units have
been conceived to be highly energy efficient, and even capable of generating their own electrictiy
and hot water.
Energy
Our design approach to minimise energy use and carbon emissions has been one of the key factors
driving the design. By harnessing environmental conditions through the control of building orientation,
fabric and form and also with the use of efficient controls and micro energy generation, we aim
to achieve a highly sustainable prototype for housing within the setting of a ‘Walled Garden’.
By utilising passive measures, we will minimise the building energy requirements by using inherent
attributes of the building to avoid or minimise the need for mechanical cooling or heating.
An efficient M&E system will minimise plant energy use by selecting the most appropriate engineering
systems and optimising sytem performance. We will maximise the use of on-site renewable
energy technologies where appropriate.
The building will be of a hybrid light/heavyweight construction, providing ample thermal mass to
provide a passive buffer against changing internal temperatures. In addition, it will be insulated in
excess of building regulations requirements and be well sealed against infiltration, minimising the
need for mechanical heating and cooling. For improved thermal performance the minimum U-values
for this building will be enhanced as follows:
Building Element U-Value (W/m2K)
Roof 0.20
Walls 0.25
Floors 0.20
Windows and Doors 1.6
Roof lights 1.8
A whole-house heat recovery ventilation system will be provided. This will be controlled on the basis
of air quality and temperature to maintain a comfortable internal environment. To avoid wasting
energy the system will be zoned, only providing heating and cooling where required.
The building has its major axis running east west, taking full advantage of natural lighting to the
normally occupied rooms of the house. The South & West facing glazing will be specifically designed
to minimise the possibility of undesirable solar gains overheating the space in the Summer months.
The axis of orientation means that there are large areas of minimally pitched east/west facing roof
available for solar collector.
Overall control of the ventilation, heating, cooling and lighting will be by a simple Building and
Energy Management System (BEMS). All systems will be zoned and will operate only when required
with additional timer control to prevent systems being left on unnecessarily.
By the above means, the need for heating and cooling will be minimised by adopting sensible pas
sive measures but where there is demand for either, the loads will be met by a closed loop ground
source heat pump system which is less CO2 intensive than either a gas fired condensing boiler for
heat or an air source heat pump is for heating or cooling. Operating the heat pump during the Summer
to meet any water heating demand will also provide the opportunity of ‘’free’’ cooling to the
dwelling areas using the heat pump’s cooled water discharge.
Building Integrated Solar collectors will be provided in the roofs. The intention is to use as much of
the glass roof area as is economically possible for photovoltaic and solar heating panels to maximise
generation capacity and revenue. An array of this size will be able to generate peak power output in
excess of the demand of the house. Building integrated rather than ‘bolt-on’ PV’s have been selected
to minimise visual impact and create the aesthetic of a traditional slated roof in so far as this is possible.
The combined effect of the passive energy reduction measures, the heat recovery ventilation, the
ground source heat pump and the photovoltaic installation will be to reduce energy consumption
by 62% and carbon emissions by 75% when compared to the same house with conventional design
built to the 2006 Building Regulations standards.
The proposed renewable and sustainable energy technologies have been selected following thorough
analysis on the basis of environmental and financial viability.
It is not anticipated that a full assessment and certification against recognised environmental benchmarking
tools such as BREEAM or Code for Sustainable Homes will be carried out for this project. In
broad terms, the energy consumption reduction measures and generation technologies proposed
for High Meadows would contribute to enabling it to achieve CfSH Code 4 status and with some
further development, Code 5 would be achievable.
Materials
Maximum use is being made of reclaimed materials or recycled materials (such as aggregates) for
construction.
Good quality robust materials with a long design life will be specified for the building. All materials
will be specified to avoid potentially harmful off gassing. The building procurement will ensure that
both the character and origin of the material production methods has been considered and only
responsible and appropriate materials are selected.
Plastics with necessarily harmful production or disposal processes such as uPVC will be avoided
where possible. The secondary aggregates will be used where possible in the structure.
Insulation will be specified with a Global Warming Potential less than 5. The material interface of the
building with the local environment will be enhanced by using vernacular building materials and
design themes.
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Impact on Human Wellbeing
No adverse impacts on human health are caused during the construction or use of the development.
The building and the services installed will be designed and arranged such that they will have
virtually no intrinsic noise impact on the surrounding area or dwellings.
We will insist that the contractor adheres to Considerate Constructors scheme and construction site
impacts. This will restrict the permissible effects of the construction on the local environment.
A site investigation is currently underway which includes Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) tests for
the site. Any spoil will be dealt with by the contractor in accordance with these test results. External
lighting and internal lighting will be controlled by photocell and clock to reduce unnecessary energy
use.
Travel
Consideration has been given to walking distances to key services and local amenities. Sudbourne is
a small village community with few village facilities and amenities. The centre of Orford is over a mile
and 15 minutes walk from the new property. Due to the rural location of the site, it has not been possible
to fully eliminate the need for personal car travel to access certain services and amenities.
Waste & Recycling
Provision for the discreet storing of recycling and waste storage bins shall be made on site. As part of
the Considerate Constructors scheme the contractor will be obliged to separate waste on site and
arrange segregated disposal. These commitments will also include monitoring the quantity of waste
during the construction process.
Water
The Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) guidance on Sustainable
Drainage Systems (SUDS) shall be adhered to. Surface water discharge from this replacement property
will be dealt with in accordance with SUDS principals. Soak-aways will be provided for dispersal
of surface water where ground conditions allow.
The economic viability of providing rain water harvesting facilities to provide water for flushing of
wc’s in the house will be established. All sanitary ware in the house will be selected for low water use
characteristics. Dual flush wc’s will be provided and taps will have low flow aerating diffusers and
infrared activation.
Air Quality
The development shall aim to minimise the exposure of the public to harmful air pollutants. Construction
products will be assessed on their impact on air quality. Construction products containing
low or zero volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) only will be used. Correct ventilation of the building
will be ensured during construction and occupancy. Whole-house ventilation is to be provided to
ensure the quality of the internal air.
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LOCAL PLANNING REQUIREMENTS
Car Parking
The walled garden itself has been designated a car parking free area. There is an access road through
the site which can facilitate a car and a small recess to allow for it to temporarily stop but this is to
allow heavy items to be dropped off nearer the houses only. The carparking for the residents of the
walled garden and their visitors will be in Bothy Yard in a newly built car port.
The 5no southern range houses have integral garages and provision is made for visitors parking adjacent
to the southern entrance of the walled garden.
Foul Sewer
A new ‘bio-disk’ sewage treatment plant will be
installed outside the walled corner approximately 100 yards south west of Bothy House to serve the
9no new units.
Sustainable Transport
Bike sheds are provided in Bothy Yard and adjacent to the southern entrance to encourage this sustainable
form of transport for short journeys into Orford or Sudbourne.
Emergency Vehicle Access
Access for emergency vehicles to the units within the walled garden will be from Bothy Yard. The entrance
arch will have to be adjusted to allow a fire truck to enter the main central avenue. Truck will
also be able to access the walled garden form the southern entrance. The access into Bothy Yard will
also need to be adjusted to allow a Fire engine to pass through.
Land Contamination Report
Please see Phase 1 report submitted separately.
Lighting Assessment
A detailed scheme has yet to be designed however it is intended to provide low level lighting which
illuminates footpaths and reduce any possibility of light pollution form within the walled garden.
Structural Survey
A visual survey of the walls have been carried out. It is very clear that the wall is in a state of disrepair
and requires urgent attention to stop further decay. A large portion of the eastern half of the wall has
been removed as it was unsafe and this will need to be replaced. In most parts, the lack of a coping
has significantly contributed to accelerated decay of the brickwork. It is imperatve that a coping with
an effective dpc be installed as part of the restoration work. The repointing of the wall where necessary
in lime mortar will also help in siginificantly slowing down the rate of decay whilst enhancing
the appearance of the wall.
Site Waste Management
Refuse collections at Sudbourne Park takes place at various locations dotted around the estate. The
enabling development includes a refuse store in Bothy Yard for the 4no units within the walled garden,
and another refuse store adjacent to the southern entrance serving the southern range houses.
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