CLIVE CHAPMAN OFFICE

Our own offices, designed to be a passive low energy building, incorporate the following features:

North/south orientation to gain maximum winter sun. Maximum glazing to south and west elevations, minimum glazing to north and east elevations. Building sunk into ground to minimize heat loss/close space gain.  Beech hedge screens north elevation. Roof overhang on south elevation provides summer shading.  High ceilings and manually openable roof vents provide passive cooling. Windows on opposite elevations allow cross ventilation.  Overhead fans aid the extraction of warm air in summer and when reversed circulate warm air in winter.  U values are 0.15W/sqm for walls, 0.13W/sqm for roofs and 0.13W/sqm for floors. Low emissive glazing.  Natural materials have been used throughout, including a lead roof, copper gutters, Western red cedar cladding, American oak windows, and interior joinery, wool carpets and linoleum work surfaces.  The building received Richmond upon Thames Sustainable Design Award, in 2000.

Following the success of the office in sustainable design awards, the practice is now on the Richmond Green Design Register and is a member of the Local Agenda 21 Building Responsibly Group.

We are currently working on a new low energy house for a private client on a brownfield site. Incorporating many of the features of our own offices, the building is set into the ground with multi level floors leading off a double height living space.