This ancient type of construction from Europe is called a timbrel vault. It differs from a semi-circular Roman arch in that its curvature is wider in the shape of a parabola. This is much more efficient, allowing the materials to be lighter, thinner and giving the appearance of defying gravity. But the tradition of building arches like these in tiles is a bit of a lost art; Richard will have to learn how to do it from scratch.
Richard and Sophie have taken on a large mortgage to pay for the build, so to save money, as well as living in a caravan on site Richard will project manage and Sophie, a financier, will manage the budget.
Andrew’s first task is to sink a series of 11 metre deep piles into the Kent clay to form a stable base for the house.
Once the basic timber structure is complete, Sophie and Richard are ready for another important delivery. In late July, 26,000 handmade clay tiles for their dramatic arch arrive on site. The arch is the crowning glory of this house but it cost far more than Richard had budgeted at a whopping £85,000. The budget’s already grown from £300,000 to £400,000, and now she’s looking at a £20,000 overspend on the arch.
To reach the super eco standards of a passive house, Richard and and Sophie have ordered some expensive airtight, triple glazed windows. Once the windows are in and the house is airtight they can finish the interior. The bathrooms are installed and Richard’s found some suitably eco friendly recycled glass flooring.
A few days later the moment of truth has arrived. One icy morning, 20 tonnes of gravel are delivered to site. Gingerly Richard and the guys begin to fill the pockets of black webbing with gravel. 40 tonnes of soil will follow later.
The parabolic curvature of the timbrel arch and the way it flares gives the impression that it hasn’t so much been built as simply thrust its way out of the ground. Beneath, Richard’s series of wooden boxes nestle under the protective wings of the arch. The interior, though interesting, is not ostentatious. Downstairs, the tile vault stretches out on either side of the house. The dining table is tucked under one arm of the arch, whilst Richard’s office sits under the other. These are extreme ends of the corridor off which sit more conventional rooms.
This house is so experimental that Cambridge University has sensors embedded all over the place to monitor its performance. Their researchers want to find out how the walls and floors store and release heat, how well the revolutionary solar panels generate heat and power, and much more. This place has the capacity to generate about £1,800 of excess energy per year, and sell it back to the grid!
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