ProjectBurford House
LocationLincolnshire
ClientPrivate
StatusPlanning Approved
An energy positive Paragraph 84 home and holiday lodges designed with local, natural materials
Burford House will transform a neglected site and number of dilapidated buildings into an ecologically rich, vastly diverse landscape that provides sustainable new revenue streams for the client.
Natural, local materials are central to the project, which features a large miscanthus bale construction system, never been done in the UK before. Burford House was granted planning permission in July 2024 under Paragraph 84 of the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework).
Designing for Live-Work Harmony
The plan comprises residential and commercial buildings that are carefully designed to facilitate the client’s lifestyle while regenerating the surrounding land - and as such it will be Studio Bark’s first residential and commercial Paragraph 84 project.
An old chicken shed will be converted into a workshop to provide space for the client’s construction prototyping business, while three new accessible holiday lodges will provide an additional revenue stream that celebrates the beauty of the natural surroundings. The bespoke home has been designed for lifelong comfort and sustainability, enabling the clients to become stewards of this special landscape.
The House
The driving concept for the house is to showcase the beauty and function of local, natural materials. A visible rammed earth central feature, and miscanthus and lime on the exterior, are both functional and provide a unique aesthetic.
Downstairs, bedrooms and private spaces have secluded full length windows to the meadow garden outside, while open plan living space upstairs benefits from expansive views across the land.
The Lodges
The lodges mirror the materiality of the main house, but designed with nature-seeking holiday-makers in mind. Each pod is orientated towards a specific viewpoint, sensitively positioned in relation to the other lodges and surrounding landscape. They have also been designed to be fully accessible with ramps, hallways, and spacings fit for use.
A House Made Out Of Straw
Bio-based materials are central to the proposal; referencing local vernacular and historical construction techniques, while significantly reducing the carbon impact of the scheme.
The walls are largely made from miscanthus blocks (also known as straw bales), which both make great insulation, while being quick to construct. The rammed earth core utilises an ancient form of construction known for its heat-retaining qualities and minimal transport emissions if extracted directly from the site. The lime surface finishing provides a weather protective layer as well as an attractive decorative coating.
A Net Zero Scheme
Burford House is an ultra low impact scheme and achieves net zero embodied carbon, performing better than the exacting demands of the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge for embodied carbon. This has been achieved through careful selection of natural low carbon and locally sourced materials, and low-impact construction systems.
Extensive landscaping supports the clients ambitions to be stewards of the site, bringing new life and purpose to this pocket of the Lincolnshire countryside.
