Imagine | Baufritz UK

Baufritz were commissioned to build this contemporary North London home, which offers a healthier and more economical alternative to a conventional house.

At first glance the house appears to be a typical suburban house, with a simple street elevation that reflects its conservation area setting. Crisp window and door openings and a zinc-clad bay window hint at its contemporary character, which really comes alive at the rear where an exciting façade with large windows and terraces overlooks the garden.

Inside, the entrance hall opens onto a spacious living, dining and kitchen area. A study is tucked away to one side of the hallway, with a cycle store to the other. Gazed doors open onto a garden terrace and fill the space with natural light. The basement contains a large family room and games room, illuminated by a deep light well leading onto a sunken terrace. Upstairs there are four bedrooms, and a beautiful master bedroom suite beneath the hipped roof with its own private terrace.

Sustainability was a key criterion for the house, which uses the a wide range of materials and technology to minimize energy requirements and create a healthy living environment. Baufritz’s prefabricated timber frame construction system combines outstanding energy performance, bespoke design and exceptional construction standards. The house was prefabricated in Baufritz’s factory in Germany before being shipped to the UK. Off-site prefabrication meant that once ground works were complete, the shell of the house was constructed and watertight within three days, minimizing construction time on site, construction waste and disruption to neighbours.

The house is insulated using Baufritx’s unique 100% natural wood shaving insulation, and the owners have been amazed by how much energy has been generated by the PV panels on the roof. Other energy efficiency measures include mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, a high efficiency gas boiler, triple glazed windows and rainwater harvesting.