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Sandpath, Oxfordshire

An exemplar of how to achieve excellence through economy

Credit: David Fisher

Adrian James Architects for Louisa Cohen

Contract value: Undisclosed (under £500,000)

GIA: 234m2

RIBA South Sustainability Award, sponsored by Sika

This is a simple, delightful building that has been well thought through by the architect and been a labour of love by a highly skilled self-build client/project manager. Built using SIPs panels with Western Red Cedar cladding, the elevations provide a simple and clean form in an orthogonal shape that will grey over time. The cantilever that achieves the half-basement level is clever, and the open plan layout maximises apparent space. 

  • Credit: David Fisher
  • Credit: David Fisher
  • Credit: David Fisher
  • Credit: David Fisher
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The budget has been focused on areas that give maximum value. The green/grey stain to the cladding/windows help soften the building, as does the use of local materials, for instance with the gabion walls. Sandpath achieves Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4. As with the design as a whole, it is exemplar of how to achieve excellence through economy. It has an air source heat pump and shows how self-builders on a budget can reduce their carbon footprint by thinking more. 

See other winners of the RIBA Regional Awards 2016 – South


 

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