Ian Brewerton Architecture

This design - currently awaiting planning permission - is for a one-off house in an undistinguished residential street in Chorlton.

An early design decision was that there is no point in paying attention to the design of the surrounding dwellings, because the overall street scene is not sufficiently attractive to justify such an approach.

Instead, a complete contrast with the surroundings has been sought.

It remains to be seen if the Planning Department will be convinced ....

The house has been designed to meet the needs of a disabled or chronically ill occupant, and includes

a large ground floor bedroom with a views of the street and entrance - the windows are sized and positioned so that even if bedridden the occupant has some visual contact with the outside world

an en-suite bathroom which can be equipped with a hoist

bedrooms at first floor suitable for family / carers

gardens laid out with raised planting beds suitable for wheelchair user

space (at the rear) for parking and access to a car for a wheelchair user


The build will meet high environmental standards, including;

corrosion resistant steel/zinc roof; 100 year life and 100% recyclable
galvanised steel rainwater goods; 100% recyclable
massive insulation in timber framed structure using FSC certified timber
high performance timber windows; timber preservatives (only where essential) of low toxicity
Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDS) - no rainwater run-off into drains
low VOC paints and stains using natural pigments
halogen free electrical cabling

new page 20 April 2009