Gap House

By BDP

The Gap House is a contemporary, cost effective eco-home designed to fit onto urban garage plots

Standardised elements and factory production allow these homes to be produced in volume off-site, reducing disruption to neighbourhoods.

Super-insulated it will have minimal energy requirements for heating. Large windows provide ample daylighting, supplemented by low energy lighting. Renewable energy with solar

PVs and air source heat pump contribute to very low running cost.

Clean lines and fresh open plan interiors relate to the changing ways of city living and aesthetics of a new generation.

The Challange and Opportunity

The ideal Gap House sites are typically urban constrained back-land plots, set within existing neighbourhoods.

Disused garage plots on housing estates have fallen into disrepair, becoming a magnet for anti-social behaviour.

Placing these new, attractive and carefully designed houses in their place will not only help deliver much-needed homes, it will also bring new energy and life, revitalising neighbourhoods and help to build stronger, more resilient communities.

'Filling the Gap’

The advent of electric vehicles and autonomous transportation changes the way we live and opens up opportunities in our cities. One of these is to be found in the pockets of garages in purpose built estates, many in public bodies ownership and a difficult porfolio to maintain.

Re-use the footprint of the existing garages to create a compact home

The Vision

An innovative eco-home, designed in a cluster that creates a small community. Smart design makes the best use of space, ample daylight making spaces healthy and feel generous. This is modern living where low energy use, on demand electric vehicles, green oasis and neighbourliness are important to the occupants

Efficient design

Optimised open plan space with ample storage

Ground Floor

1. Entrance connects with a personal terrace and neigbourhood space

2. Extra ceiling height on the ground floor

3. Large windows allowing natural light to flood in

6. Smart storage around the home

7. Bicycle store

First Floor

3. Large windows allowing natural light to flood in

4. Natural finishes

5. Bedroom as a place of retreat and rest

6. Smart storage around the home

New Community

The Gap House cluster shares an open green space for interaction and recreation, and acts as a buffer ‘front room’, connecting to the wider neighbourhood.

1. Foundation - 8 mini piles with rc edge beam

2. Superstructure - CLT floors, wall and roof panels - CLT internal partitions & stairs

3. Exterior assembly - Larch dark stained planks - Wood fibre Insulation - Standing seam zinc roof - Concealed zinc gutters

4. Interior - Exposed timber finish - Storage walls

5. Wetroom - Full height ceramic tile - Ceramic tile floor - Fixtures

6. Kitchen - Fitted cabinets - Integrated appliances

7. Windows - Large corner window - Tall windows - Skylight

8. Heating & Ventilation - PV film on roof - Wall radiant panels - Mech Vent/Heat Recovery - Air Source Heat Pump - Hot water storage

9. External Elements - Cycle and bin store - Raised timber decking with planters - Air Source Heat Pump external unit - Water butt

Digital Engineering

Digitally engineered, the Gap House components are made in factory conditions and assembled on site quicker than traditional construction.

The superstructure of a cluster of six homes in cross laminated timber panels can be erected in 10 days.

Factory conditions minimises contruction waste by up to 75% compared to on-site and standardisation of elements allows for economies in volume and repetition.

Materials to suit locality

The expression of the homes can respond to the local context. A palette of external materials will allow the cluster to be customised, from brickwork cladding to timber or metal.