Passivhaus Barn Boasts Stylish External Blinds

Gresford Architects recently completed this stunning countryside residence in the Berkshire village of the Old Water Tower. The property, certified as Passivhaus, uses natural methods of heating and cooling, rather than relying on electrical systems.

However, despite the fact the property is designed to be fully self-sufficient, architects were keen for the property to maintain the look and feel of a 'normal' home, along with ensuring the building fitted in with its rural surroundings. 

Gresford Architects explain how "the house is conceived as a modern interpretation of the timber-framed barns in the area, that when seen from the distance reads as a simple, traditional, agricultural building. But, on closer inspection it reveals itself as a crisply designed, carefully made, contemporary interpretation of the historic buildings it draws inspiration from." 

As you can see, the building is two storeys high, with a gabled roof and a facade of black-stained timber weatherboarding, along with tripe-glazed windows to prevent heat loss. "The triple-glazed windows are openable, debunking the Passivhaus myth that the house must always be closed," said Gresford Architects. "External blinds are automatically deployed on the east, south and west elevations when the internal temperature of the house reaches 21 degrees, thus reducing the chance of overheating."

Along with stopping the sun’s incoming solar heat radiation even reaching the glazing, providing an eco-friendly alterative to air conditioning, external blinds effectively diffuse light to prevent glare and filter damaging ultraviolet rays, ensuring a healthy interior space that can be used to its full potential 365 days a year.

Gresford Architects emphasise how "the house is as easy to live in as any normal home, yet costs virtually nothing to run and could be entirely self-reliant if a suitable number of photovoltaic and solar thermal panels were fitted to the roof.”

As you can see, external roller blinds play a fundamental role in the design of a Passivhaus property, and seamlessly compliment their environment, both in terms of their sleek design and energy-efficient properties. 

Grand Designs Passivhaus
England's first certified Passivhaus, showcasing our eco-friendly external roller blinds.

Plus, as the UK’s leading family owned manufacturer and installer of external solar shading solutions, and having worked on more Passivhaus projects than anyone else, we have unrivalled experienced when it comes to advising you on the correct external shading solution for your property.

If you would like to find out more about how our solar shading systems could enhance your home, complete our quick enquiry form here and one of our specialists will call you back to discuss your requirements in greater detail.

Recent Posts

Celebrating the Importance of the Family Business Sector

For 6 years now, Caribbean Blinds has been a proud member of Family Business United (FBU), an organisation that acts as the voice for the global family business community and provides an invaluable source of insight into the sector. Founder and CEO…

Read More

The GHA and BBSA Launch New Design Guide on Shading for Housing

Last night, we attended the launch event of the new ‘Shading for Housing’ guide created by the Good Homes Alliance (GHA) and British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA), at Diespeker Wharf in London. Consisting of research led by award-winning architect Pollard Thomas…

Read More