Photography by Christian Brailey, courtesy of Architecture for London, unless otherwise noted.
You’ve likely heard this a million times: The most sustainable [insert item] is the one you already have. After all, most people don’t have the resources to, say, build a passive house from scratch.
The renovation of the 1907 London townhouse he shares with his partner, Susanne, and daughter Edyth was complicated and not inexpensive (construction costs were around £250,000), but the tradeoff is that the house now uses about 80 percent less energy.
Ben walks us through the results, detailing the changes, big and small, that went into achieving an energy-efficient, eco-conscious home.
1. Preserve the good.
You don’t have to toss everything out and replace it. The original front door here was restored by local stained glass expert Rachel Kemp.
“We used lime plaster throughout which has a beautiful finish naturally and provides a further layer of airtightness,” says Ben.
2. Skip the paint.
The triumvirate of oak, plaster, and limestone imparts texture and warmth—with the added benefit that each of these materials has low embodied energy (the energy used to make the product).
3. Stick to natural materials.
4. Bring in the light.
As the north-facing front living room doesn’t get much natural light, Ben designed the dining area addition in the back to feature an oversized floor-to-ceiling window.
Photograph by Lorenzo Zandri.
5. Make sure windows are airtight.
Photograph by Lorenzo Zandri.
The remodel was inspired by Passivhaus standards.
The large picture window and glass door in the new addition provide easy visual (and physical) access to the garden.
6. Connect to nature.
Photograph by Lorenzo Zandri.
7. Prioritize responsibly sourced wood.
The oak used throughout the home “was sourced from a supplier based in Essex who only sells wood that is FSC-certified,” says Ben.
Photograph by Lorenzo Zandri.
Photograph by Lorenzo Zandri.
8. Be selective about the furniture.
If you’re buying new furniture, zero in on brands that care about protecting the environment.
9. Opt for natural insulation.
In lieu of fiberglass insulation, Ben had the home insulated with wood fiber insulation.
10. Circulate fresh air.
The newly renovated loft, now used as Susanne’s yoga studio.