The Hut

Newlands Farm comprises a range of former farm buildings and the farmhouse which is Grade II listed. The range of buildings includes some open-fronted barns, a barn converted to a holiday cottage and a range of traditional stables.

The site relates to a large Nissen hut building located on the northside of the private road which runs past the farm buildings and farmhouse which are on the southern side of this road.

Status:

Planning Granted

Tipology:

Residential

Size:

250 sqm

Building Cost:

+500k

Project Manager:

Kenny Orellana

Nissan Huts designed during World War I were cost-effective and easily transportable. Their adaptability allowed for various uses, Post-war.

Our design aligns with this goal by improving energy standards and encouraging biodiversity. We utilise the Passive House standard to achieve carbon reductions, supporting a transition to a low-carbon future while reusing existing resources. Our efficient design strategy addresses thermal efficiency, overheating and energy balance.

Nissen huts were originally designed by Major Peter Nissen of the 29th Company Royal Engineers of the British Army, during the First World War. Three semi-cylindrical prototype huts were constructed, with the final version put into production in August 1916.

Two factors influenced its design. The first factor was connected to the cost of the materials used in the context of a shortage of building materials in wartime, and the second factor was associated with making the units portable.

A revival of the Nissen hut took part during the Second World War, to accommodate different uses: churches, and bomb stores among other uses. Accounts of life in these structures were generally negative, as the Huts were frequently seen as cold and draughty in the United Kingdom, while those in the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific were seen as stuffy and humid.

Understanding how a Nissen hut can transcend through conversion requires recognising its historic adaptability and the intrinsic imperfections arising from the low-cost and rapid construction methods used during wartime.

The site is in a rural environment in England, with partial shading due to the trees found along the western and southern elevations. The site gently slopes down to the East.

Most of the new habitable spaces will be placed at ground level, for which seasonal ground storage effects must be considered.

The living/kitchen and dining room will mostly face west, with fewer opportunities to achieve south heat gains.

The roof surface is around 400 sqm, and therefore it is a vital element of the thermal envelope therefore any heat loss via the roof will severely impact the thermal comfort of this house.

The building has received planning permission for the change of use into a Family Home; initial analysis has revealed that the current design proposal is underperforming in at least some of the following aspects:

• Thermal Efficiency vs. Medway Housing Standards

• Overheating

• Lack of Energy Balance

It has been found that there are considerable heating losses due to the physical limitations of insulating the curved roof without temporarily dismantling it.

Furthermore, current Building Regulations require an airtightness pressurisation test that meets a value of 0.6, this requires good Building Practices, which will be limited if the roof works cannot be carried out without free access to the roof's upper side.

To adequately place robust insulation and ensure airtightness of the building envelope, it is indispensable to remove the roof sheets temporarily, if not permanently. The latter is subject to the condition of the galvanised coating.

Further analysis has been made assuming that curved roofs can be temporarily dismantled to enable the usage of modular Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) insulation panels reinforced with galvanised steel C-sections running through their length, with a Vapour Barrier Membrane placed over and adequate mastic in all joints.

This new design also assumes that the ground floor slab can be lowered by 500mm, this would enable the placement of more and better insulation on the ground floor while meeting the minimum floor-to-ceiling heights highlighted in Medway Housing Standards.

These changes have enabled the annual heating demand to meet a value of 16kWh/m2, which is near enough to the desirable value of 15kWh/m2. We believe that further and minor improvements will enable this design to meet the desired annual heating demand, consequently achieving an energy-efficient dwelling.

This initial photomontage aims to demonstrate the visual impact of the proposed development in its context.

The images on the left illustrate the replaced and/or repaired corrugated sheets, shown in both raw galvanised, black-coated finish.

The design intention for this new house arises from a commitment to delivering energy-efficient, high-quality housing, grounded in a comprehensive analysis of existing materials, context, and principles of passive architecture.

This proposal represents a significant opportunity to establish a benchmark for informed energy-efficient architecture in Medway.

We firmly believe that our proposed energy-balanced design harmonises with its context, ensuring that the character of the building remains intact and respected.