The Haven project in Horning, Norfolk, is the perfect example of the increasing trend for greener building. The new house and boathouse is a gracefully designed, sustainable replacement to the previous designs, perfectly complementing and enhancing the picturesque waterside village of Horning. Due to the extremely challenging high flood and moisture area of the Norfolk Broads, only Accoya wood would have the necessary long-lasting durability to meet the demands of the project. A unique design The Accoya wood, supplied by International Timber ltd, was used for cladding decking and screening. Architects, Lambert, Scott and Innes modernised the design by creating a unique, curved, glue laminated rear screen; this was influenced by the marine character of Norfolk and is designed to resemble a traditional wooden boat construction. The Accoya screen was made in The Netherlands and was manufactured by Newham & Abel Ltd. It was coated with merbau – coloured Woodguard coating; the same finish was used for the cladding. The entrance floor of the house is set at 1.3m above ground in order to avoid the flooding that is often prevalent in the area. Accoya wood is the only timber able to face the challenge of being exposed to such conditions without shrinkage and reduced performance. Accoya has been proven to outperform even the best tropical woods in these respects. The distinctive boathouse, also covered in sustainable Accoya wood, is a fantastic addition to this riverside property. It is purposely designed to be set above the water level, allowing any flood water to flow safely through its base. It is a perfect and secure place to store a boat in any weather conditions. An Eco-friendly building The house is 60% more efficient than the current building regulations and achieves Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes for Energy. The construction has a ground source heat pump producing 9.7kw; this pre-heats the water and underfloor heating installations for even more energy savings. The power for the house is gained from the Photo Voltaic Cells that provide 1.8kw of electricity, which is enough for the general running of the house. A distinctively designed green roof uses green sedum to further decrease the risk of flooding. The sedum absorbs rainwater reducing the amount that will fall to the ground. It also promotes biodiversity by providing a suitable habitat for wildlife. The Haven project demonstrates the versatility and extreme durability of Accoya, especially in such unconventional conditions. The beauty and flexibility of Accoya wood make this unique design both practical and graceful.
