the triangle, greenwich
the triangle is a small, enclosed site of around 330m² at the triangle community centre on armitage road, greenwich, hemmed in by neighbouring buildings. the royal borough of greenwich wanted new social homes here that meet its zero-carbon policy, one of the most demanding standards in london, without compromising on space or quality for the families who would live in them.
as designers for alexander james contracts (ajc), the borough's design and build contractor, we created five townhouses that combine a highly insulated, airtight shell with renewable energy. off-site manufacture of the timber frame and window cassettes kept construction fast and precise on a site with almost no room to work. the homes are now complete and occupied.
zero carbon should be the standard for social housing.
the people who rely on social housing are often those hit hardest by rising energy bills. homes that need very little energy to heat and power give residents lasting savings, and a borough the housing stock it needs for the future.
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built off site
the timber frame and window cassettes were made in a factory and assembled on site. that meant less disruption for neighbours, faster progress on a tight plot and a higher standard of airtightness. the homes also achieved secured by design accreditation (the police-backed standard for safe homes).
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energy from the roof
solar pv panels and air source heat pumps (which draw warmth from the outside air) supply the energy the homes do need, meeting greenwich's zero-carbon policy and going beyond the part l building regulations for energy.
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fabric first
superinsulation, an airtight envelope and mvhr (ventilation that recovers heat from outgoing air) keep heat in and fresh air flowing, so the homes need very little energy in the first place.
