SCOTTISH HOUSE: A REVIEW OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN BUILDING INDIVIDUAL AND SMALL GROUPS OF HOUSES WITH A VIEW TO SUSTAINABILITY, THE USE OF TRADITIONAL AND NEW MATERIALS, AND INNOVATIVE DESIGN
CASE STUDY 2-
House at Rhu, by Ullapool
Frank Burstow, Architect
Summary of Innovative Design Features
- Passive solar gain used to partially heat house.
- Breathing wall to south elevation.
- Design enables convective air movement through house.
- Whole house ventilation system.
Key Features of the Design which Contribute to Sustainability
- Reduction of heat loss by use of compact plan, orientation, window openings sized according to orientation, house dug into site.
- Heavyweight construction to east, north and west, and lightweight timber clad breathing wall to south.
- Garage/workshop to north to provide thermal buffer and upside-down plan.
- Structural timber sourced locally.
Materials, Traditional and New, which were selected for their Health/Environmental Impact
- 15 mm bitvent in breathing wall.
- Rockwool insulation.
- Non-toxic preservative on external timber.
- Norscot r/w windows double glazed with low 'e' glass and 12 mm argon-filled gap.
- Borax and boron/glycol mixtures for timber treatment, Auro organic paints internally.
- Low voltage lighting and task- related light design.