Velidhu By: ARCO2 Sustainable Architecture This contemporary, multi award winning home is a showcase of low-energy design, combining passive and active solar strategies through its sunspace and rooftop photovoltaic array. Set on a corner-shaped plot, the layout makes the most of its unusual geometry: the ground floor footprint differs from the first floor, which extends outward to embrace the garden and optimise solar orientation. A cantilevered upper level and a lush green roof lend the building a striking, dynamic profile. Super-insulated with natural sheep’s wool, the airtight yet breathable envelope features triple-glazed external joinery for exceptional thermal performance. When solar gain is low, heating is provided primarily by an air-to-water source heat pump feeding underfloor circuits, supplemented by a high-efficiency wood-burning stove. A mechanical ventilation and heat-recovery system ensures fresh air with minimal energy loss, while a rainwater harvesting network supplies the WCs, washing machine, and garden taps. Clad in locally grown timber and Trevillett stone, the house comfortably surpasses Passive House U-values and achieved an outstanding air-pressure test result, maintaining year-round comfort with minimal heating demand. Its credentials are remarkable: with an Energy Performance Certificate rating of 103, the highest recorded in Cornwall, the home produces more energy income … Continue reading Beyond Passive: A Net-Positive Cornish Retreat