2017 OpenHaus: Manor Farm

Date: 29 - 31 August 2017	Time: 3 consecutive days
Location: Manor Farm, Lower Tale, Payhembury, Honiton, Devon, EX14 3HL	Cost: Free, booking essential

OpenHaus

The new business unit at Manor Farm comprises four offices, a board room, kitchenette and shower room providing space for the client’s businesses as well as two offices to let. The building was designed to comply with the Passivhaus standard from the start, and is awaiting certification.

Manor Farm

The construction method is a highly insulated timber frame on a standard foundation and slab arrangement. The external walls are clad with rendered wood-fibre insulation, the frame contains 240mm of mineral wool. Internally a 38mm service zone prevents the air-tightness layer from being compromised. The roof is built-up of cut rafters with mineral wool insulation and Polyisocyanurate over the top of the rafters.

A sedum green roof helps the building to blend into its surrounding Devonshire countryside. For any additional heating that might be required a wood-burning stove will be installed.

The client runs a business consultancy, his wife a tutoring business, for which they needed additional space. They decided on the Passivhaus route to keep running costs low, but also to provide a special, comfortable place to learn and do business.

The building is expected to be completed by the end of August 2017.