Residential architecture can include all kinds of green features

Residential architecture in London is incredibly diverse. There are so many different types of property to take inspiration from, whether it is lovingly retained Victorian or Edwardian period properties or modern, high rise apartment blocks. More and more of the latter are appearing with land in the capital being so limited and commanding such high values coupled with the demand for homes.Recently plans for an exciting new residential tower called the Beacon were released. The headline is that the property would become the most sustainable of its type in the world as a result of the array of green features incorporated into it. A site at Hemel Hempstead just 24 miles to the northwest of London has been earmarked for the building.The list of green features of the building is impressive and would make the property one of the most incredible examples of residential architecture in the whole world. Just a small selection of them includes;- A natural ventilation system that uses the air produced on site- Rainwater collection and utilising grey water to feed toilets- Integrated solar panels to generate energy- Use of ground and air source heat pumps- Triple glazing for energy efficiency- Automated car parkingThe thermal and acoustic insulation that will be used in the property stands out in particular. The first will result in thermal emissivity that is an incredible 70% better than the requirements of the current building regulations in the UK. The acoustic rating of each home in the property will be beneath 15db, 60% better than the regulations.The plan even takes steps to improve the carbon footprint of the construction materials used in the building. The aim is to produce the concrete as close to the property as possible to keep transport to a minimum. On top of this excavated clay and chalk will be used as infill for non load bearing walls. This means the material will not need to be removed from the site and cuts down on the number of materials that need to be shipped in.At Coffey Architects we will keep our eye out to see if progress is made with the project. It will certainly be interesting to see how such a wide array of green features, some of them particularly complex, work together and the effect they produce.