Ecofab: Nanstallon Pre-School (Build Diary)

On hearing that the local playgroup at Nanstallon required new accommodation and were proposing to purchase a prefabricated, temporary building, the Directors of ARCO2 and eco-fab Ltd offered to provide a taste of an alternative by preparing designs and detailed costings of a bespoke preschool building. The resulting proposals so impressed the committee that they unanimously agreed to commission eco-fab Ltd to undertake the works following cost comparisons with other leading prefabricated, portable building suppliers. The eco-fab proposals, despite being entirely unique, site-specific, organic and substantially more sustainable were found to be more affordable by up to £4000 than the alternative portable buildings.

Planning was subsequently achieved and off-site production and on site enabling works were commenced at the beginning of October 2009. This building has the benefit of an open rural site, excellent southerly aspect and it is hoped that bids for grant funding for PV panels will be successful in due course. The building has been designed with such future possibilities in mind with installation of cable and trunking in order to make retro fitting of such panels more easy. The minimal heat load is met using a small 5kw output heat pump supplying an underfloor system. (no mains gas available). The building is finished as usual with timber from local forests and supports areas of biodiverse roofs.

The design also maximises the benefits of the rural location with views of the surrounding countryside through the south and east glazing all of which is positioned with children in mind. The building is due to be complete by the middle of January 2010.

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Science & Technology

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