Name: Gresford Architects
Price range: $

Modern two-storey house with a flat roof, timber cladding exterior, large windows, and a driveway with an electric car, architecture by Gresford Architects.

Bright, airy living room with large glass doors, colourful pendant lights, and a wood ceiling, featuring a green sofa; architecture by Gresford Architects.

Bright open-plan kitchen and dining area with colourful pendant lights, large windows with view of lush garden, and blue cabinetry.

Modern two-storey house with wooden cladding, large windows, outdoor patio, landscaped garden, and a chimney, architecture by Gresford Architects.

A wood-paneled wall with three framed landscape pictures in a living space, featuring a modern black stove, brick hearth, and a basket, architecture by Gresford Architects.

Open-plan living space with a wood-paneled ceiling and wall, colourful pendant lights, blue kitchen units, and a mix of modern furniture, architecture by Gresford Architects

Modern multi-storey building with wooden and concrete exterior, large glass doors and windows, set against a blue sky with some clouds.

Interior view of a modern living space with a staircase, artwork on the walls, and large windows showing the garden, architecture by Gresford Architects.

Interior staircase with black metal railing, wooden handrail, and wooden wall panels, architectural detail by Gresford Architects.

The Deerings, a new build modernist certified passivhaus, is a brave addition to a traditional suburban street scene in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. This striking home is a sympathetic response to its urban setting and sits comfortably alongside its more traditional neighbouring properties. This simple two storey rectangular form is on the cutting edge of sustainable design, constructed utilising modern and innovative methods and built with family living in mind.

Far removed from the former bungalow that sat on the site, the building has been designed to optimise its performance by adopting a ‘fabric first approach’ while meeting the client’s aspirations in terms of space and lifestyle. The house was built from a super-insulated timber frame, which was constructed off-site. The frame was supplied with insulation and airtight membrane, and erected on a passive slab in 3 weeks, speeding up the overall programme, and minimising wastage and disturbance to neighbours. Recycled paper insulation and timber cladding externally was chosen to reduce the carbon footprint of the building, minimising the use of concrete and steel to less than 10% of the total volume of the building.