I designed and detailed a pair of two bedroom houses in this South Cambridgeshire conservation area to replace a 1970’s bungalow. These prototype structural insulated panel (SIP) houses were amongst the first of their kind in England. At the time there were no Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) companies fabricating bespoke houses. I bought panels from a cold store manufacturer and fabricated them on site with specialist tools. I also managed the build on site until completion.

Despite the houses’ vernacular appearance the panels have enabled excellent thermal performance and exceptional air tightness. The use of 150mm thick SIPs in the roof negates the need for inefficient rafters and trusses allowing the space to be completely given over to accommodation and easily accessible storage. The careful staircase design has minimised circulation space whilst creating a pleasant and airy atrium.