Maes Llwdy | Affordable Housing Competition Entry
Llandystumdwy, Gwynedd, 2023
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At the end of 2023 we entered a competition to design up to five new build homes for Gwynedd Council. The concept proposal centres around a modular timber frame form that can be adapted with a half-dormer attic for an additional 2 or 3 bedrooms. The modular form, built from Structurally Insulated Panels in a local saw mill would be both sustainable and cost-effective. The forms were low rise to fit in with the local vernacular architecture. The site was adjacent allotments, so we chose to enhance these and incorporate them into our Sustainable Drainage Strategy.
We believe low-carbon houses are essential for social housing. A project like our design for the site at Maes Llwyd might cost 5-10% more to build in materials, but the energy running costs can be a 1/10th compared to traditional houses. They could irradicate fuel poverty, which is particularly important for the more vulnerable or those on lower incomes.
