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| Top 10 UK eco homes: Underhill House, Gloucestershire | Top 10 UK eco homes: Underhill House, Gloucestershire |
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| 3. Underhill House, Gloucestershire | 3. Underhill House, Gloucestershire |
| Architect Helen Seymour-Smith was given the plot for Underhill House by her father. Situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty, the plot included a dilapidated 300-year-old stone barn. The catch? To date all development proposals had been refused, the planners reluctant to spoil the bucolic view of the honey-coloured barn amidst gentle rolling fields. | Architect Helen Seymour-Smith was given the plot for Underhill House by her father. Situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty, the plot included a dilapidated 300-year-old stone barn. The catch? To date all development proposals had been refused, the planners reluctant to spoil the bucolic view of the honey-coloured barn amidst gentle rolling fields. |
| Bold and indefatigable, Seymour-Smith's design for Underhill House went on to win the approval of the planners – one of only 20 properties in the UK ever to be granted planning permission in an area of outstanding natural beauty. It was also the first certified Passivhaus in England. | Bold and indefatigable, Seymour-Smith's design for Underhill House went on to win the approval of the planners – one of only 20 properties in the UK ever to be granted planning permission in an area of outstanding natural beauty. It was also the first certified Passivhaus in England. |
| Almost completely hidden behind the comparably conventional barn conversion, Underhill House burrows underground and is near invisible on the landscape, allowing Seymour-Smith to build the family home she wanted. "We want to bring the Italian catwalk to eco houses," she wrote at the beginning of the build, "proving that you don't have to knit your own sandals to be an environmentally conscious builder." | Almost completely hidden behind the comparably conventional barn conversion, Underhill House burrows underground and is near invisible on the landscape, allowing Seymour-Smith to build the family home she wanted. "We want to bring the Italian catwalk to eco houses," she wrote at the beginning of the build, "proving that you don't have to knit your own sandals to be an environmentally conscious builder." |
| But this is no dark and dingy warren. Expansive south-facing triple-glazing creates the perfect passive solar design whilst the north side of the home is buried underground, drawing warmth from the earth and eliminating the need for a central heating system. | But this is no dark and dingy warren. Expansive south-facing triple-glazing creates the perfect passive solar design whilst the north side of the home is buried underground, drawing warmth from the earth and eliminating the need for a central heating system. |
| The sleek structure of the house – which was built for a total of £575,000 – is entirely concrete, much of which is left exposed internally. The galvanised steel ventilation ductwork and wiring conduits are laid bare creating a minimal, industrial aesthetic a million miles away from Bag End. The four bedrooms are on a single level, and each are arranged to receive as much natural light as possible. There are dropped ceiling panels to aid acoustics and segregate the expansive open-plan living area and internal walls are, of course, almost all white to bounce light through the home. | The sleek structure of the house – which was built for a total of £575,000 – is entirely concrete, much of which is left exposed internally. The galvanised steel ventilation ductwork and wiring conduits are laid bare creating a minimal, industrial aesthetic a million miles away from Bag End. The four bedrooms are on a single level, and each are arranged to receive as much natural light as possible. There are dropped ceiling panels to aid acoustics and segregate the expansive open-plan living area and internal walls are, of course, almost all white to bounce light through the home. |
| It's like "loft living underground", according to Seymour-Smith. Loft living in the heart of the glorious English countryside. | It's like "loft living underground", according to Seymour-Smith. Loft living in the heart of the glorious English countryside. |
| From 21-24 April we'll be asking you to vote for your favourite. One voter chosen at random will receive £150 worth of gift vouchers for Nigel's Eco Store. | From 21-24 April we'll be asking you to vote for your favourite. One voter chosen at random will receive £150 worth of gift vouchers for Nigel's Eco Store. |
| With thanks for help and advice from: the Green Building Council, Hattie Hartman, sustainability editor at the Architect's Journal, HAB housing, The Green Press, Green Sky Thinking, Superhomes, the Centre for Alternative Technology and The Built Environment Centre for Northern Ireland. | With thanks for help and advice from: the Green Building Council, Hattie Hartman, sustainability editor at the Architect's Journal, HAB housing, The Green Press, Green Sky Thinking, Superhomes, the Centre for Alternative Technology and The Built Environment Centre for Northern Ireland. |
| Read more: Top 10 UK eco homes: Marsh House in NottinghamTop 10 UK eco homes: Princedale road in LondonTop 10 UK eco homes: Hemp Cottage in County Down, Northern Ireland | |
| Interested in finding out more about how you can live better? Take a look at this month's Live Better Challenge here. | Interested in finding out more about how you can live better? Take a look at this month's Live Better Challenge here. |
| The Live Better Challenge is funded by Unilever; its focus is sustainable living. All content is editorially independent except for pieces labelled advertisement feature. Find out more here. | The Live Better Challenge is funded by Unilever; its focus is sustainable living. All content is editorially independent except for pieces labelled advertisement feature. Find out more here. |