Marsh Flatts Farm

Passivhaus performance for a contemporary farmhouse

2017

Private Residential

Sustainability

Modern eco-home with curved timber cladding and rooftop solar panels set in expansive green English countryside

A Passivhaus Plus home tucked into the Derbyshire Greenbelt, balancing sharp design with low-impact performance—wrapped in stone, cedar, and a whole lot of natural light.

Project Overview

David came to us with a bold idea: build a high-performance home in the greenbelt that didn’t feel like a design compromise. He wanted something crisp, contemporary, and future-proof - but still comfortable enough to live in with muddy boots.

We designed a new three-storey home in place of a previous farmhouse, shaped to meet Passivhaus Plus standards from the ground up. The result? A house that does the hard work of performance behind the scenes, so David and his family can get on with enjoying the view.

Location

Derbyshire

Status

Completed

Client

Private Client

Area

3,050 sqft

Services

Architectural Design

Planning

3D Visualisation

Project Management

Modern two-story rural home with timber cladding, stone base, curved zinc roof, and large glass windows in open countryside

Modern rural home with curved zinc roof, timber cladding, and stone base set in green countryside landscape

Zinc-clad window bay projecting from a timber and stone-tiled house facade

Architectural sketch of modern two-story home with wooden cladding, large windows, and gabled roof

Architectural sketch of modern two-story home with wood-clad upper level, white base, and asymmetrical pitched roof

Modern two-story home design with timber cladding upper level, stone base, asymmetric roof and glazed gable feature

Modern two-story house rendering with vertical timber cladding, stone base, large windows, and asymmetrical gabled roof

Architectural rendering of modern two-story home with curved roof, timber cladding, and stone base beside traditional white cottage

Modern three-story timber-clad residential building with stone base, large windows, balcony, and solar panels on curved roof

Context

Not so much “farmhouse,” more future-house with a view.

The existing property on site wasn’t worth saving—it was outdated, inefficient, and didn’t reflect how the family lived. What they needed was a reset: a place where they could raise their kids, entertain friends, and enjoy the landscape around them—without shivering in winter or stressing about energy bills.

They were clear about what they didn’t want: no pastiche farmhouse, no boxy compromise, and no overblown tech that sounded great on paper but made no sense to live with.

They needed something timeless, efficient, and human—a proper home, not just a house.

Simple on paper. Smart in practice.

The form is simple because simple works. A cuboid shape keeps the envelope compact and energy tight. A curved roof softens the profile and makes space for discreet solar panels.

Every window earns its place—letting in the light but not the heat. Upstairs, bedrooms overlook a south-facing garden. Downstairs, everything flows: cooking, eating, relaxing, repeating.

Materials were chosen to settle into the landscape and need minimal upkeep—buff stone, Western Red Cedar, standing seam zinc. Warm, strong, and built to last.

Modern barn-style home with curved metal roof, timber cladding, stone base, and large windows at dusk with illuminated interior

Challenges & Solutions

"Getting to Passivhaus Plus meant sweating the small stuff."

Greenbelt sites come with strings. But the house’s modest shape, restrained palette, and clear environmental ambition helped secure approval.

Tiny tweaks to orientation, insulation, and air sealing made a big difference.

It wasn’t about chasing performance. It was about making sure the house felt right to live in—no draughts, no dead zones, no nonsense.

How it feels to live here now.

Now, the family lives in a house that keeps itself comfortable—quietly, reliably, and efficiently.

They hardly think about heating because the house hardly needs it. Sunlight moves through the spaces during the day. At night, the bedrooms are calm, quiet, and cosy.

It’s the kind of home that doesn’t shout, but gets everything right.

Modern two-story eco home with cedar cladding, stone base, curved zinc roof, and solar panels in rural countryside setting

Residential construction site showing concrete block walls with wooden roof trusses and metal joist hangers being installed

VMZINC roofing membrane installation on sloped roof with DuPont Tyvek underlayment and wooden battens during construction

Modern building exterior with horizontal wood cladding, large windows, and curved zinc roof against cloudy sky

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How it works (Because "get in touch" shouldn't feel like a leap of faith)

01. Talk One conversation to understand your project, your budget, and whether we're the right fit. No obligation. No sales pitch.

02. Design Everything built around your brief. We sketch, develop, and refine — with check-ins before anything is fixed. You stay in control without getting buried in the detail.

03. Deliver Through planning, building regs, and into construction. We handle the process. You make the decisions that matter.

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