Build it house at Graven Hill

Architect - Lapd Architects
Roofing contractor - Onpoint Roofing
Main Contractor - Drewett and Hunt Construction

Build It magazine have embarked on their own self build project at the custom and selfbuild development at Graven Hill and they have documented each stage within their magazine to give selfbuilders insight into the process of creating their own bespoke home.

The brief for Lapd Architects was to design a contemporary yet contextual house that would maximise the potential of the small plot the Build It team had secured at Graven Hill and would achieve a good level of sustainability and energy efficiency.  Their design features a combination of timber cladding and render beneath a clay tiled SIP panelled roof.  The Build IT team wanted their choice of roof tiles to bring warmth and character to the project and they liked the natural clay colours offered by Dreadnought.  “With these roof tiles, the colour is fired into the clay itself (rather than with applied finishes).  This creates an extremely durable tile with a richness and character that can lift and soften a contemporary scheme,” explains Chris Bates from Build IT.

With the help of sample tile panels from Dreadnought and 3D renders produced by their architects, the Build It team settled on a blend of country brown, red and brown heather sanded tiles.  The scheme includes solar photovoltaic panels to reduce the house’s reliance on mains electricity.  The roof is finished off with half round clay ridges which are both mechanically fixed and mortared to give a traditional aesthetic.