IMS Building Solutions to embark on a Passivhaus plus project consisting of six houses.
Passivhaus Plus
The Passivhaus movement has been growing steadily in the UK, with the adoption of its standard now seen in multiple building types from schools to archive buildings, and single detached dwellings to larger housing developments.
Out of the 4379 buildings on the Passivhaus Institut database there are currently 106 Certified Passivhaus buildings in the UK, of which 87 are new build, and 43 are detached single-family houses.
5 of these detached houses are in Scotland, 4 are in Northern Ireland, 3 are in Wales, with the remaining 31 in England.
In terms of multi-unit developments, the scheme with the largest number of certified units is in England and consists of 18 certified apartments. The development with the largest number of certified detached houses is also in England (Carrowbreck Meadow) and consists of 14 units, 8 of which are detached properties.
There are currently only 4 buildings on the database in the whole of the United Kingdom that are Certified Passivhaus ‘Plus’, and all 4 are detached single-family houses in England specifically. There are currently no Passivhaus ‘Premium’ buildings Certified within the UK.
AJ Architecture Awards 2018 finalists: Small project, Civic & Education – Woodland Classrooms, Belvue School.
IMS Building Solutions are the winners of the 2018 Wood Awards (The Judges Special Award).
Woodland Classrooms, Belvue School
The Judges’ Special Award
Location: Northolt
Architect: Studio Weave
Client/Owner: Belvue School
Structural Engineer: Timberwright
Main Contractor: IMS Building Solutions
M&E Consultant: Arup
Project Managers: Jackson Coles
Roofing Sub-contractor: VMZinc
Wood Supplier: T. Brewer
Wood Species: Western red cedar (Canada)
Belvue School is a secondary school for students with moderate to severe learning difficulties and a range of other needs. 150sqm of extracurricular spaces, with domestic quality and intimate scale, have been built on a modest budget. The boundary between the playground and adjacent woodland was identified as the border between familiar school territory and the magical, mysterious world beyond, with the new Woodland Classrooms acting as a gatehouse. ‘Cosy Lounge’ is used for workshops and engaging with the woodland, as well as being a calm, private, sensory space when required. ‘Sociable Kitchen’ includes a café and group dining. ‘Messy Barn’ allows outdoor learning, whatever the weather. Through encouraging and inspiring students to adopt extra responsibilities and be more autonomous, the school nurtures their social, emotional and personal development. The concave ceiling creates an intimate scale which opens up to clerestory windows as you move towards the centre of the room. The stack effect created by this allows the spaces to be entirely naturally ventilated.
Thank you to the Worshipful Company of Carpenters (The Judges).
IMS Building Solutions are the Architectual Journal Education Retrofit Award Winners 2016
Swanlea Sixth Form by London Borough of Tower Hamlets Architects
Jury comment “The original building might have been demolished, but instead the council chose to save it, showing an understanding of the value of the original structure. The building was ingeniously retained and over-insulated and clad, while the extension makes a great contribution to the urban environment”.
Type of project School
Location London
Client London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Main contractor IMS Building Solutions
Completion April 2015
Project cost Undisclosed
The Shortlist
• Rosalind Franklin Science Building by Berman Guedes Stretton.
• Education First by BuckleyGrayYeoman.
• Brentwood School Learning Resource Centre by Cottrell & Vermeulen.
• ARK Putney Academy by Hawkins\Brown.
• UTC @ Harbourside by HKS.
• Withington Girls’ School by Levitt Bernstein.
• The Bath House Children’s Community Centre by Lipton Plant Architects.
• Putney High School Performing Arts Centre by Shepheard Epstein Hunter.