Eagle House, Hastings

Retaining and improving the existing building was central to the project's environmental aspirations. By avoiding demolition and extending the structure's life, the project saved significant amounts of embodied carbon. Any inappropriate alterations were reversed, window proportions were restored, and materials were reused where possible, such as timber boards in the pitched roof lining.

We calculated that heating would account for a significant portion of the building's energy demand and tackled this with a fabric-first approach: external walls and roofs were insulated well beyond the minimum required to meet building regulations, with triple glazing installed in all new windows. Efficient fabric reduced the heating load, allowing us to make use of the limited roof space for a cascaded domestic heat-pump installation to provide space heating. This, coupled with the underfloor heating system, means the building benefits from zero fossil fuels on site, low heating energy demand and high heat pump efficiencies. 

Eagle House is naturally ventilated wherever possible. In addition to being low-cost, this keeps the maintenance strategy simple for the client and gives users control over their environment. The building form is well-suited to cross-ventilation, allowing even the more densely occupied office spaces to passively remain cool on hot days. 

The project meets RIBA 2030 targets for embodied carbon, and operational carbon is reduced by 60%.