Issue 47 JUNE - Flipbook - Page 89
Nina’s House
by Nina+Co with ROAR
A deep retrofit of a cold, leaky and uninspiring 1970s building using predominantly natural, local or
recycled materials has led to a warm, low-energy and fossil fuel free home, with future resilience and
enabling more self-sufficiency for the family.
The site in South Tottenham, originally built as a clergy
house for the church next door, is in the 95th percentile
for air pollution nationally.
The ground floor was remodeled to an open-plan layout,
bringing the small garage and porch into the thermal
envelope.
A decision was taken early not to extend the property, but
to make good use of what was already there, spending
budget predominantly on infrastructure and technical
performance; removal of gas supply, installation of an airsource heat pump, underfloor heating, new doors and
windows, cork cladding, extensive insulative work, and a
huge endeavour to improve air-tightness.
Thick cork and softly rounded edges make a striking
presence on the street, yet the house is not imposing;
smaller than surrounding buildings, it is warm, welcoming
and open to the street. The cork exterior engages passersby, sparking questions and conversations about the
natural, regenerative material. People come up to the
house to stroke the cork — neighbours, school children
and delivery drivers often ask questions about it giving
Nina and her family a chance to connect more with their
local community.
Extensive insulation and air tightness work, alongside the
MVHR system have made for a comfortable ambient
temperature, good air quality, and modest electricity bills.
The insulative work comprised of PIR floor insulation,
graphite-coated polybead cavity wall insulation, and
recycled plastic loft insulation. And 100mm of dark
expanded cork that wraps around the exterior walls;
chosen for its textural beauty, minimal build-up (no
synthetic meshes), and regenerative farming practices.
Working closely with the cork manufacturers, good use
was made of their experience and technical knowledge to
deliver this low-carbon solution. Internally, a 60mm layer
of lime plaster containing cork granules insulates one wall
that could not be accessed from outside.
