news from BRE
published: 19/5/2009
Prince Charles sees progress of the 'Natural House' on the BRE Innovation Park
Prince Charles paid a visit to the BRE Innovation Park in Watford today to check the progress of the Natural House, an alternative approach to sustainable home building which is being constructed by educational charity the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment.
The Natural House joins the latest phase of development of the Park which features a range of world-leading sustainable homes and buildings that demonstrate diverse and innovative approaches to low impact design and construction.
Constructed from a range of natural materials which have a low embodied energy and good thermal properties, the Natural House aims to demonstrate significant energy savings right from manufacture to daily use, to offer good indoor air quality, to be simple and quick to construct and to appeal to the increasingly eco-aware homebuyer.
Dr Peter Bonfield, Chief Executive of BRE comments: The aim of the Innovation Park is to show, test and trial a range of different design, construction, and technology options for sustainable homes and buildings. We are excited about the new body of evidence based knowledge that the Natural House will generate with its own unique approach to homebuilding for a low impact built environment.
Aiming to reach Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, the house features a range of materials that are either grown or taken from the ground to create a comfortable, liveable environment within the house. Walls are formed from a single skin of aerated clay Ziegel blocks, with external lime and hemp render and internal woodfibre board to provide high levels of insulation with minimal heat transfer. Roof tiles are clay and all timber for floors and windows is made from ethically and locally sourced FSC certified timber.
Hank Dittmar, Chief Executive of The Prince's Foundation explains "Climate change is forcing us to radically re-think our built environment. It is vital that we find a simple, high volume, low carbon approach to house building, creating a new eco-vernacular that people will love and enjoy for hundreds, not tens of years. We tend to assume that that low carbon must mean high-tech, but that's not the only option. We must deliver low carbon in a way that is appealing to home buyers, and we must also address issues of indoor air quality, the use of natural materials and the creation of adaptable, flexible buildings."
Visitors to BRE's INSITE09 event 1-4 June will be able to see the shell of the Natural House under construction as well as demonstrations of the Zeigel block wall system which will take place each day of the event. The house will be completed in the Autumn 2009.
Photo caption: Prince Charles laid a Ziegel block, monogrammed with the Prince of Wales feathers, into part of the wall of the house during his visit today [Photo: Peter White, BRE]
For further information contact Linda McKeown, tel 0777 2228768, email mckeownl@bre.co.uk
Notes to Editor
BRE has been Building a better world for almost 90 years through cutting edge research, consultancy and testing services. Our unrivalled knowledge of sustainability and innovation is now used across the construction industry and in the corporate world creating better buildings, communities and businesses. BRE is part of the BRE Group of companies owned by the BRE Trust, a registered charity. www.bre.co.uk
The BRE Innovation Park
The BRE Innovation Park features a range of world-leading sustainable homes and buildings that demonstrate diverse and innovative approaches to low impact design and construction. By working in partnership with some of the UK’s principal developers, house builders, architects, designers and manufacturers, the park provides an evidence-based body of knowledge for those working in the built environment about sustainable buildings and communities. Featuring over 300 different construction innovations and emerging technologies as well as a state of the art landscape design, the park has attracted tens of thousands of visitors from around the world since its launch in June 2005. www.bre.co.uk/innovationpark
The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment is an educational charity which seeks to improve the quality of people’s lives by teaching and practicing timeless and ecological ways of planning, designing and building.
INSITE09
INSITE09 showcases ten full-scale real-life buildings that incorporate a range of innovative technologies and products. These include three exciting new builds for INSITE09 to compliment those already at the BRE Innovation Parkas well as a refurbishment project that demonstrates a low carbon community healthcare building of the future. The winning BHA/Landscape Institute sustainable landscaping scheme will also be unveiled at the event which includes a topical and lively four-day CPD-accredited conference programme with free masterclass sessions, a 6 zone exhibition area and much more. www.insite09.com