A contemporary countryside home combining energy-efficient design, expressive structural detailing, generous glazing, and carefully engineered open-plan living spaces.
A contemporary countryside home combining energy-efficient design, expressive structural detailing, generous glazing, and carefully engineered open-plan living spaces.
Located near Salisbury, Lower Orchard is a contemporary new-build family home combining clean architectural lines with brickwork, vertical cedar cladding, exposed steel and expansive glazing. Positioned to maximise countryside views, the house was conceived as a highly sustainable and energy-efficient home, incorporating solar PVs, an air source heat pump, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery and high-performance insulation.
The architectural concept featured extensive openings, minimal masonry returns and areas of exposed external steelwork, leading to the adoption of a steel-framed structural solution. Particular attention was required to engineer the relationship between the internal structural frame and externally expressed steel elements, ensuring both visual quality and structural performance, while addressing thermal bridging and stabilising independent frames supporting masonry façades.
Internally, the structural strategy enabled generous open-plan kitchen, dining and snug areas alongside large glazed sliding doors opening onto the landscape beyond. A striking steel and timber staircase and gallery landing create visual connectivity between floors while maximising natural light and rearward views. Through close collaboration with the architect, AWA helped deliver a contemporary home balancing structural efficiency, sustainability and refined architectural expression.
AWA Consulting Engineers is a structural, civil, and marine engineering consultancy established in 1987, with a hard-won but deserved reputation for delivering excellence in our profession.
Our philosophy is simple: we put people first. This has resulted in a high number of repeat clients and an impressive track record of successful award-winning projects. We are proud to be professional, and approachable; we believe this makes us the ideal partner for your project.
AWA has technical teams in our offices located in Romsey, Hampshire and Bath, Somerset. We deliver services to clients typically across the South, South East and South West.
Our team includes both chartered structural engineers and chartered civil engineers committed to continuous professional development ensuring you benefit from up to date industry expertise, whatever your project entails.
To find out more about how AWA Consulting Engineers can help with your project, get in touch today. Email mail@awaengineers.com and one of the team will be in touch. Alternatively, call 01794 524447 to speak to a member of our team.
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