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Marsh Flatts Farm
Passivhaus performance for a contemporary farmhouse
2017
Private Residential
Sustainability
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
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The existing property on site wasn’t worth saving—it was outdated, inefficient, and didn’t reflect how the family lived.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.
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.
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