Business Description

Koru Architects is the leading designer of bespoke low energy healthy homes for design-conscious clients who want to create a sustainable legacy in the south-east of England.

We are a multi award-winning practice specialising in biophilic, eco-design and we work exclusively with timber construction and natural, non-toxic materials to help people who value good design, healthy environments and sustainable living.

It will be our pleasure to work with clients who wish to create a new-build dream home either for their retirement or to accommodate an expanding family.

Our purpose is to elevate the human spirit and promote wellbeing through design and the art of sustainable living. Our mission by 2025 is for all our commissions to be zero carbon homes.

Studio 221, 92 Western Road

Brighton and Hove
England
BN1 2NW
United Kingdom
15 Lloyd Close, Hove

scope: Koru Architects undertook the whole project from design to completion. Koru were also the clients. The house won the RIBA Downland Prize for sustainability 2011.

aims: The brief was to create a sustainable, light-filled home and studio for Mark and Abi, the directors of Koru Architects.

measures: Roof integrated 4kwp solar PV panels provide the electricity demand and solar thermal panels supplement a wood pellet biomass boiler to provide energy for space heating and domestic hot water. Rainwater is harvested for WC flushing and garden use.

monitoring: Air tightness test result on completion was 1.5m3/hr/m2 @ 50Pa. For electricity production/consumption, after the 1st year in use the building consumed 3900kwh and produced 3832kwh.


Garden Cottage, Clayton, East Sussex.

scope: Koru Architects undertook the whole project from design to completion.

aims: A large extension to a period cottage within the conservation area of Clayton at the foot of the South Downs. This two-storey rear extension almost doubles the floor area of the existing cottage, and has created a new south facing facade to both enjoy the views of the South Downs and to maximise passive solar gain.

measures: The new wing of the house has made extensive use of locally-sourced sweet chestnut for cladding and high-performance doors and windows. The existing oil heating system was replaced by an efficient wood-pellet boiler and solar thermal panels.

monitoring: The thermal performance of the existing cottage was upgraded, but since the cottage was doubled in size, it is difficult to give any meaningful performance data.


Replacement Dwelling, Horsham

scope: Koru Architects undertook the design, planning, building control and onsite queries.

aims: New contemporary 4 bedroom replacement dwelling in Horsham. This sensitive addition to the street scene references the period building it replaced in modern way.

measures: The rear south-facing elevation has been more highly glazed to exploit winter solar gain. The majority of the materials used in construction are natural materials, low in embodied energy, non-toxic and recyclable or biodegradable.