Chattock Gardens

Chattock Gardens was a development in Solihull centre and an ingenious design to overcome the challenges of sensitive backland development. The solution was to build two houses where the majority of the living and usable space are underground. Both houses have multiple large sunken courtyards to reveal the lower levels and allow natural light through the triple glazed windows and sliding doors.

Initial design of the project began in August 2008 with an initial planning application being made in July 2009 which was later granted upon appeal in February 2010.

Both houses were designed and built with energy efficiency at the core with some of the key features detailed below:

• Triple Glazed Windows

• Highly insulated building with concrete walls, floors and roof giving a high thermal mass.

• Wild flower meadow on the roof to further improve performance and increase biodiversity.

• Level 5 of the Code for Substainable Homes achieved.

• Air Source Heat Pump with underfloor heating.

• 4kW per house solar PV array.

• Hot water system with energy recovery direct from the mechanical vent systems.

The development was recognised with two RIBA awards in April 2016.