Crossway

Crossway, Staplehurst, Kent

Grand Designs featured the project on 18th Feb 09 - goto ‘a grand design’ section for more information;

Made possible through PPS 7 paragraph 11

Passive solar design

100% on site renewables comprising;

91% efficient MVHR system with a 4kw heat register;

the UK’s first PV-T system (26m2 of a combined solar thermal & PV panel) linked to;

the world’s first Heat stream PCM thermal store backed up by;

an 11kw biomass boiler for when the sun doesn’t shine

Timbrel vaulted staircase

The world’s first vacuum insulated front doors (equivalent to 500mm of polystrene)

PCM thermal store board to 1st floor south facing rooms

20m wide 8.5m high local hand-made clay tile timbrel vault with 300mm thick living roof

Rainwater harvesting and on-site waste water treatment

Insulated using recycled newspaper

Internal finishes including polished crushed glass bottle flooring and recycled car tyre matting

Extensive monitoring system live-linked to Cambridge University for ongoing research into understanding low energy buildings and lifestyle.

triple glazed throughout