SOLAR SHADING & COLLECTING VERANDA

This simple new canopy/ veranda structure near Kelso, in the Scottish Borders aims at serving multiple purposes. The extension to the existing building will provide a welcoming gesture that provides shelter from wind and rain on arrival; it will act as a solar shading device to a largely glazed dining area that currently suffers from overheating; and the solar panel roof surfaces will provide sustainable renewable energy to the existing home.

 

The client was keen to adopt a triangulated rhythm for the shape of the structure. This rhythm takes its' cue from the vernacular features of the existing Victorian house and the elevation pattern was further evolved and refined to respond to existing site features and dimensions. The client also asked us to design a structure that could be assembled on site from prefabricated timber and metal elements with the aim of limiting material wastage and disruption to their home and daily activities.

 

Architectural details for the solar shading and collecting veranda have been further refined to incorporate projecting gutters that will be connected to rain chains that are fixed at the base to a rill feature. The rain chains and rill will guide and collect surface water collected by the roof planes and then channels the water away from the building and covered path. The structural engineers proposal has been evolved to use the roof surface as a diaphragm that braces the supporting structure and the gutter features will form an integral component within the overall structure since they will serve as valley beams.

 

For more examples of sustainable projects that we have been working on follow these links to our renewably powered and heated university project, sustainable farmhouse project that utilised reclaimed materials and check out our blog with some information about other retrofit projects that are currently under construction.