Once they had planning permission for a large extension to their existing home, our customers realised that this bigger house would be compromised in design and form. So, they decided to start again. Unsure how to build an entirely new home and worried about falling foul of traditional construction horror stories, they found Facit Homes by chance. “From the very first point of contact with Rhys, we felt more positive and inspired about our project. The constructive and aspirational conversation made a huge difference to our outlook. It gave us confidence that there was someone who could take us through the entire journey.” To learn more about why they decided to build their new home, visit Introducing a new project . The evolution of the ground floor layout during design discussions. The design brief A design brief is a set of directions for a creative task. In this case, it was designing a contemporary, open plan family home. Starting as a single set of instructions or requirements for a home, the brief gradually evolves during the course of the creative and collaborative process between our architects, designers and customers. Privacy, security and technology were key parts of their initial brief. Creating a comfortable, spacious and family-led environment was important, in particular, one where they could enjoy entertaining. One issue with the site was raised immediately. The very steep driveway had become an obstacle for elderly relatives and young children, as well as dangerous in winter weather. In order to create a safer and more comfortable entrance, we split the front garden into two levels; a lower level to allow entry from the road with parking on a flat surface and a higher one defining the entry to the home, connected via stairs in the landscape. Every design decision involved great care and thought, from the general layout and spatial configuration to the nitty gritty details, like individual bathroom fittings. Our process encouraged this care. Developing the design Following initial conversations with our customers, a rudimentary brief and the scope of the project emerged. This included an overall budget, reference images of the types of interior that they liked and a room list with requirements for each room. Our customers overcame concerns about maintaining control of the design process by gradually building up the design details with our in-house architects. Designing a home with Facit Homes: Top level details. The first conversations between Facit Homes and any new customer always touches on the top level details of the project. They often include access and topography of the site, the size of the home, the ideal budget and what is most important to them. We can give an approximate price for a home based on the size and top level details at this stage. Internal layouts.  Once appointed to design the project, we start to draft concept floor layouts in order to define the spaces in the home according to the overall size. The form is drawn up as a concept based on the brief and developed during further conversations with our customers. Initial design discussions are focused on diagrammatic drawings, a simple but effective way to show the general layout without going into too much detail. Adding detail. After agreeing the principles of the interior layout and the architectural design of the home, we assess the collection of spaces and add detail and definition to the floor plans, such as doors, windows and furniture layouts within a 3D computer model. This model can generate both conventional 2D drawings as well as far more complex 3D views. 3D walkthrough.  Once the detail has been added, we present a 3D rendered visualisation of the home as it will be built. The power of our 3D software means we can show our customers around their new home from a first person perspective and they can get a feel for how it will work in reality. The beauty of this process is that it comes directly from our design model, rather than being a separate creation - we can discuss options and make changes to the model and the visualisation is updated in real time. Finalising the design. Further design discussions are held to make more detailed interior decisions such as flooring, kitchen layout, window placement and lighting. This final step takes as long as it takes, varying from project to project. Early in their project, our customers wanted to explore options for a basement and an additional small third storey. These were sketched out and collectively assessed for cost and planning restrictions, but eventually ruled out. After agreeing the overall form of the home, the number of storeys and how it works on the site, our architects worked through each floor plan to refine the size and location of each room, discussing the relationship between the spaces and how that may (or may not) suit their busy family life. At this point, they were able to see the reality of the design decisions they had made so far. This is the point where most of our customers become more relaxed as they start to have a much better understanding of the project as a whole. The videos in this article are a real time capture of the 3D computer model we created for this project. It is not a professional CGI video but shows the virtual experience that our customers get whilst we are designing their new home. Bringing it all together Developing the design brief in person with our customers allowed us to establish what is important to them and how they intend to live in their new home. They were specific about the way they wanted to inhabit the ground floor of their home, and the design responds to that brief. The design is very much a product of their direction. Guests entering the home will walk past the feature staircase and through to the open kitchen and dining room, which also incorporates a small sitting area. They has admitted to being most excited by this space - the ‘hub of the home’. As a family with African and Indian roots, they were inspired to create a spacious home; one that facilitates their love of entertaining. As they said, "We wanted to know how to bring the best of the Indian and the western culture together in a contemporary way so we could have those family values, cooking and food, as the centre of gravity." This large space is open plan with multiple areas to allow the family to spend time together, whatever they are doing. The hub of the home. The space connects to the garden via large bifold doors that ensure natural light will stream in. They will be able to open up their interior entertaining spaces in better weather and create one large outdoor dining area. A second set of doors to the left of this image opens onto the other side of the garden. Moving through an impressive glass partition swing door (a design inspired by their Pinterest research), guests can relax in a separate large living room. The glass pivot door is designed to create a visual connection between the rooms, whilst allowing separation when required. During one of the design meetings, our customers mentioned their love of congregating on the stairs (and in other spots) to catch up as a family. So when it came to designing the staircase, we worked with them to create one that would help facilitate such moments. Digitally designed and manufactured by our team, the staircase has a laser cut, raw steel balustrade, wide base and solid oak treads of differing lengths to allow for those spontaneous conversations. A digitally manufactured staircase designed for a catch up. The first floor has the three en suite bedrooms; one of which, the master suite, also has a separate walk-in dressing room. Each bedroom has a wall of fitted wardrobes, designed to ensure the room still has plenty of space. This floor has a laundry room so that our customers don’t have to carry the washing up and down the stairs. The MVHR system will regulate the moisture in the air when they use the dryer in this room. Moving up to the top floor, there is a soundproof music studio and a large games room that will also be used as a home cinema. Along the corridor there is a fourth bedroom, bathroom and study for Anand, as well as the plant room, where the environmental kit as well as extensive AV and data systems are housed. The final design With a form born from the internal layout, this three storey Facit Home has a dual tone exterior to break up the mass of the front elevation. Panels of textured Equitone  cladding on the ground floor provide a contrast with the smooth render chosen for the first and second floors. The lower level cladding is a "unique 3D shaped, through-coloured facade material that plays with light and shadow...Every moment of the day, the changing angle of the daylight gives the facade material a different aspect." With a linear, routed texture, it has the look and feel of cut stone. Two tone exterior. Smooth render and panelised Equitone cladding. The gambrel shaped zinc roof has two different slopes: a very steep side slope and a lesser sloped section at the very top. The gambrel design cleverly appears to be a pitched roof, which is in keeping with the local area and neighbouring houses. This roof design allows higher ceilings on the top floor, providing extra living space in a cost effective way. As mentioned in our previous journal post , the home has a wraparound garden which the new design makes into a much more usable space. Originally, part of the garden was separated from the main rear space by a narrow corridor at the corner of the home so we decided to open and connect these areas. By cutting out the corner of the ground floor and overhanging the first floor above it, we were able to widen the walkway without disrupting the orientation or shape of the home. Being set high above street level, our customers also wanted privacy from their new home. The landscape has been designed to have a fenced front garden and an automated gate, controlled from inside by their integrated smart home technology.

Planning approval has been granted for a new Facit Home on a beautiful site in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the coast of Suffolk. View from site entrance Having come to us with a concept design in place from their previous architects, our customers were looking for cost certainty and a proven construction approach to reduce the overall risk on their project before moving it forward toward a planning application. We were able to develop the concept, adding some of our own ideas and details, and ensuring it could be delivered on budget. Our robust and comprehensive planning application was well received by the local authority and their consultees, including the Suffolk Coast & Heath AONB Planning Officer who commented that 'the high-quality design and the high energy efficiency of the scheme is supported' Inspired by the Bauhaus movement, the design presents a high quality piece of architecture that has a contemporary yet timeless feel. Typified by bold shapes, clean lines and minimal ornamentation, the Bauhaus language has been used to develop a dynamic property that will complement its surroundings. A long canopy provides shelter for the main entrance and connects to a large garage The majority of the building is set across 2 floors, with a single storey element to the west which connects to a garage via an overhead canopy. On the north elevation, a series of playfully placed windows provide interest and animation to the façade, with a projecting element to the east and canopy to the west adding articulation and depth. On the south elevation, larger windows allow for generous amounts of natural light to enter the interior, in particular the living spaces which connect directly to the garden. They are shaded from summer sun by solar shades and the overhanging balcony to the east, but will still allow for solar gain in the winter months. The south elevation faces onto a beautiful mature garden We are excited to get going on the next stage of the project and for construction to commence!

Our latest Facit Homes customers had lived in a draughty home for 8 years always knowing that they wanted to change it but never quite knowing where this would lead. Our customers considered extensions, internal refurbishments and even buying elsewhere but they eventually realised the only way to get what they really wanted was to replace their home. Nothing else suited their family of four and their lifestyle quite as well. The location was perfect for them which, combined with the time and complexity of refurbishing and extending, led them to consider starting from scratch. And yet, speaking to several architects and builders almost put them off entirely. Worried that they would fall foul of the horror stories told, our customers searched for another solution and stumbled across Facit Homes by chance. “From the very first point of contact with Rhys, we felt more positive and inspired about our project. The constructive and aspirational conversation made a huge difference to our outlook. It gave us confidence that there was someone who could take us through the entire journey.” The existing house “We didn’t know we were going to completely demolish. It wasn’t on the cards. We thought we would do everything from the inside and extend on top of our double garage.” Our customers felt that the location of their house was unbeatable, with family and friends close by, good access to the high street, public transport and schools. However, their existing house was cold and expensive to run: a draughty yet attractive 1970s house that would tremble when large vehicles or buses passed. Energy usage was also an issue. They found themselves saddled with large gas and electricity bills which never seemed to reflect the temperature in the house (which was consistently chilly). “It was not a house designed for sustainability.” Situated on a very steep slope, the driveway was a major influence in their decision to rebuild. It deterred eldery relatives from visiting and was also a cause for concern with young children. “Even the postman would complain just walking up the driveway. It was dangerous.” The plot has an interesting wraparound garden - which will remain for the new home built on the same spot. Previously the garden wasn’t accessible from all sides of their house and so was underused - a factor that we have made sure to rectify in the design. The new home will open onto zones within the garden all the way around. Inside their existing home, the cramped layout didn’t suit their desire to entertain. There wasn’t enough space for 8 people to sit comfortably around a table and, as a product of its time, the home had become impractical with just one shared family bathroom upstairs and small, separate living spaces downstairs. As their children grew up with interests in sports and music, there wasn’t enough space to accommodate this. Drumming started to take place in the conservatory which was a loud, cold and impractical solution - something they have remedied in the design and layout of their new home. Out with the single glazing and in with energy efficiency The 1970s home was attractive but it just wasn’t built for an Indian family. In the design of their new home, our customers were inspired by “Open houses, big kitchens, big living rooms and people coming in and out freely.” “Most houses were designed with a certain persona in mind, a European persona. We were bringing African influence and Indian influence and living in London very close to the high street. A lot of things went into the design process, which was really exciting. Not just for us, but also for Facit.” Following their inspiration and new found freedom in designing exactly how they wanted to live in their family home, the kitchen is the centre with living areas opening up from that space and large windows and doors connecting it to the garden. “We wanted to find a way to bring together the best of the Indian culture and the Western culture in a contemporary way with family, food and cooking as the centre of our gravity.“ The kitchen was designed to be the hub of the home. The cultural impact on this project was most clear in the decisions around space. Our customers wanted open spaces throughout and an example of this is when an early design was quickly sent back to the drawing board in order to allocate almost double the space to the corridors and transition spaces. Even the staircase was designed to be large enough to allow our customers to congregate as a family wherever and whenever, something they have always done in their existing home and look forward to doing in more comfort at the end of 2021. “Every area is a landing area, that’s the mindset. So we can land anywhere in the house and be comfortable.” The large, three flight staircase will be digitally manufactured and become a statement piece in the home, alongside the pivoting glass partition door between the kitchen and the sitting room. This particular piece was inspired by their extensive Pinterest research. A digitally manufactured staircase designed for a catch up. Two top floor office spaces will accommodate the future of working from home with integrated technology for podcasting and presenting. They are likely to become bedrooms at some point, if required, but until then will be used for working and to complete school homework. A soundproof music studio on the top floor is designed to ensure that the drumming doesn’t disturb others. Technology for the future The opportunity to design and build their new home gave our customers the freedom to think about what really mattered. They wanted to focus on making a home with a seamless experience augmented by smart technologies; and one that would also be future proof. Their existing house had limited WiFi connection and the universal 2020 experience of lockdown and working from home proved just how important this would continue to be. “It was very clear that if we were building a house it had to be technologically advanced, because that’s what we are as a family and it is our business background.” They researched solutions for consistent WiFI throughout the house and discovered Equippd , a young company that brings smart technology into homes. A Lutron  system was chosen to control their lighting, with Crestron  operating their speakers, gate, heating and CCTV. Both systems have elegantly designed face plates that will be positioned throughout the home. “It’s a story of entrepreneurship and supporting local businesses. Equippd are good at what they do and came up with solutions to sort common issues, such as losing WiFi as you move upwards in a home.” What were the biggest challenges for this project? Getting started Our customers spent 5-6 years finding a solution to the problems posed by their existing home. The biggest challenge was finding the right company to take them through the process - something they didn’t discover until they picked up the Evening Standard one day. “We’re always thankful that we found Facit. It’s not just the building expertise, it’s the accessibility to the designers and engineers and the educated conversations with members of the studio team. If we ever build again, we’d rather have Facit than anyone else.” Planning appeal The most impactful challenge was the planning application. After receiving an unexpected and arguably inexplicable refusal - the only one for Facit Homes so far - we appealed the decision following the advice of our planning consultant. The Planning Inspectorate, the independent central body that reviews all appeals and avoids subjectivity in planning decisions, granted planning permission but this delay cost the project over 6 months. For more information about planning applications, see our journal post here . Topography of the site Creating a solution to counteract the steepness of the driveway was a design challenge. Excavating the site enabled us to create a multi level entrance with a set of steps that lead to the front door. The new design allowed us to level the steeply sloped driveway and create steps up to the house. Expectations As with all self build construction projects, the process has been filled with numerous emotions for the family. Alongside the happiness of the final design and excitement about decisions along the way, there has inevitably been some anxiety and changing expectations. “It’s full of 5 different emotions, ups and downs. There is no straight line to building your own house. It’s an enormous project and we often pinch ourselves to check we’re really experiencing it.” What are our customers most excited for? As a family, they’re looking forward to more space and a home designed around the way they live; more specifically, one that allows them to naturally congregate all over. For the children, the soundproof upstairs music studio and the games room are a highlight. For the adults, the kitchen and downstairs area - the hub of the house and the pantry in the kitchen, as well as the overall design of the house. “Two words describe our decisions in everything - function and beauty combined. I want to see the front of the house looking as we designed it. Everything has been chosen carefully and after running a design studio, I enjoy watching that.”

Each detail in a Facit Home is carefully considered and none more so than the 6.8m tall stairway recently installed in  Pocketsdell House. The impressive laser cut staircase at the heart of this eco home was designed, manufactured and installed by Facit Homes. Our in-house design and engineering expertise always extends to the entire home with intricate interior features as part of our turnkey service. From scratch Our customers, Patrick and Scott (with their dogs, Barley and Fin), wanted a home that reflected their love for nature - something evident in their extensive plant collection, design for a wild swimming pond and choice to incorporate bat boxes  in their home. Building their own home meant they could design a property that suited the way they want to live as well as benefit the local biodiversity. As a central element in their new home, the staircase is a key part of their interior design and spans the three floors of the home. We proposed an intricate, laser cut steel design for this space. Building regulations informed part of the early design discussions. The required balustrade height of 90cm to 1.10m would have meant that a rail ascended from the floor below into an angular point in the centre of their open plan living room. So, the team worked to design an enclosed staircase that rotated at 90 degrees onto itself in a spiralling, trapezoidal shape. Perfecting the pattern The design for the shell of the staircase consisted of long parallel panels that were to stretch from the basement to the first floor, creating a sensation of flow between the floors. The pattern of the laser cut steel would define the amount of light on the stairs and in the room. Starting as an open staircase with balustrades (see below), the design moved to solid panels that spiralled between the floors for structural advantage. The design chosen was an abstract pattern with slim borders and laser cut shapes to allow natural light. Designed after the cor-ten tree columns that  feature on this home, we were able to match the aesthetic of the staircase to the structural steel nature of the tree columns. The final design was inspired by an image found by Patrick and Scott which showed a pattern replicating the appearance of cells in a leaf as seen under a magnifying glass - bringing nature into this structural element. It consists of three cell-like, circular shapes. The eagle eyed among you may be able to spot a few of the shapes recurring in similar positions - this is because the pattern was designed to be tileable. Creating a repeated 50x50cm square of the design optimised it for manufacturing. In order to create a more natural feel, the edges of any “cells” that were cut into by the required borders were rounded out in unique shapes. This detailing allowed us to remove the rigid lines between the pattern and the panel borders. Folds in the steel (most visible as solid black lines in the image above) create strength in the material and incorporate a linear aesthetic between the panels. The folds are visible from the exterior of the staircase but not from the enclosed and entirely smooth interior. The slim borders around the pattern allowed the folding to take place without disruption to the design - and matched what was required for manufacturing and assembly. Manufacturing the staircase First, there are a few industry terms that might help. Design for manufacture (DFM; not a catchy term) is the engineering practice of designing products so that they are simpler to manufacture - creating a better product by combining the knowledge and experience of manufacturing with the act of design. It involves consideration of every part from the length of screws to material dimensions and the fixings that hold parts together. For anyone familiar with flatpack furniture,   Ikea  are the masters of DFM. This will seem like common sense but the reality is that many designers think about manufacturing or fabrication afterwards (which can lead to redesigns and escalating costs). The Facit Homes approach to digitising construction meant that despite having never built a staircase structure like this one we could still create this design. CAD, computer aided design, is an overarching term for the use of computers in the creation or optimisation of a design. BIM, building information modelling, which we use to design every element of our homes is a process that results in the generation and management of digital representations of physical characteristics. BIM is the process of creating and managing a ‘digital twin’ - an exact replica of a physical product that can ensure the design is accurate. Once we had created the digital design within our BIM software, work began to assemble the production information for the manufacturers. This included instructions for cutting and folding large sheets of steel, such as below. We tested the feasibility of our design with an installation run-through of the longest panel. An essential step in designing something new, it was important for us to check that the team on site were happy with the method of installation as well as whether the material would behave as predicted. One of the team on site even stood on a single sheet to prove its tensile strength. Once we had proved it would work, we supplied the final technical design models and our fabrication partner   Lasershape  converted our BIM specifications into G code - the computer language that gives the machine instructions for laser cutting the intricate pattern in the panels of steel. Installation was a complicated process that involved the careful coordination of material delivery and support for the team on site. We ran into a few delivery issues over the Christmas period, which set back completion by a few weeks. The panels were delivered to site ready for installation, but some required welding into place around the three large PFC steel beams in the centre of the staircase. These columns are the incredible strength at the heart of this impressive steel staircase. Each one weighs an impressive 150kg. We’re not kidding! You can imagine the team strength it took to manoeuvre those into place on site. The design of the treads (the steps) evolved from solid timber (which would have increased the weight and cost) to raw steel. We recognised that the structure would be quite dark so added LED lights under the handrail to illuminate the interior and further increase the shadows cast by the pattern. The final step in the construction process was to polish the steel. After being moved around on a very muddy site (always in order so that the first panel required would be at the top of the pile) the panels and treads needed to be cleaned and protected against rust and to get the beauty of the steel to its very best. And finally, the socks-on-the-stair test. Result! Not slippery. A studio collaboration As you might expect, this staircase required the expertise of more than one in the Facit team. Nick (Design Engineer), Fanis (Lead Architect) and Bruce (Founder) worked with our customers to define the very early concept designs based on the space available. Nick then worked closely with Patrick and Scott to create the beautifully detailed design. As he said, “we managed to find the perfect middle ground between what the building needed to comply with regulations and what the customers wanted for the design of their home.” Also responsible for creating production information for his intricate design, Nick worked through all the dimensions, practicalities and logistics of the manufacturing and installation - a lengthy and detailed process. Credit is also due to Ryan, Ale and Jonathan for their work coordinating the site operations, including the storage and assembly of the staircase, working with the manufacturers for delivery and ensuring the right people were on site at the right time (with the right tools). For more information about this project, visit Pocketsdell House.

Our customers found Facit Homes after using an independent architect to design their dream home on a rural Hertfordshire site - a dream home, it turned out, that they were unsure how to build within their budget. After making a few small adjustments, we managed to bring the costs to the right level whilst maintaining the overall design intent of a beautiful home tailor made to their lifestyle. One of the special features of this particular project is the steel tree columns that you can see on the right in the picture below; a stunning concept designed by the original architect that we really wanted to bring to life. They support the overhanging first floor and create a covered outdoor space that can be enjoyed whatever the weather. By using our digital manufacturing process, we were able to detail the steel tree columns to millimetre tolerances and enable a level of craft that really shows in the finished product. What is a steel tree column? A column is a vertical pillar that supports the structure of a building. We’ve named these ‘steel tree columns’ because of their unique tree-like appearance and the material they are made from. Full view of the two steel tree columns with Facit Chassis components in the background The structurally expressive branching arms provide support for the upper level of the home while also becoming part of its aesthetic appeal. These tree columns are particularly impressive because, with corten steel as their primary material, their slim profile will both provide structural strength and weather to a beautiful burnt orange colour in time. Corten steel is known more commonly as weathering steel due to the layer of rust that forms on the surface of the material but doesn't rust through, protecting the inner steel from further corrosion. It was originally developed for use on railway transport carts in the 1930’s, which needed to be incredibly durable, but has more recently become popular in architectural design for its beautiful colour and texture. The tree columns were digitally designed in our studio and manufactured from sheet steel using laser cutting and folding machines, then assembled on site as a kit of parts by our construction team. Assembly instructions A larger example of branching steel columns is the design of 'The Tote' in Mumbai, India, as shown in this Dezeen article . Tree columns can also be made from other materials, like the timber in this example  by Japanese architect Kensuke Watanabe . What were the design considerations? We chose 8mm steel for tighter fold radiuses and a more crisp look, as well as easier handling and assembly. The four, folded 8mm ‘trunk’ elements and four 8mm ‘branches’ provide stability in all directions and create an effective thickness of 32mm while retaining a slender look. Close collaboration with our long time engineers Milner Associates helped us to reduce down the sizes of the elements and keep the trees from feeling too ‘clunky’. Facit Homes’ in-house design engineers also needed to create a super accurate flat pattern for the fabricators to ensure that all the fixing holes lined up perfectly after cutting and folding. The stainless steel fixings will contrast with the corten steel once it begins to rust Galvanic corrosion, also known as bimetallic corrosion, occurs when two dissimilar metals are in contact. In order to prevent this, our design engineers introduced an insulating spacer of a different material between the corten steel and the fixing bolts, which are all A4 stainless steel. How were they made? Our in-house designers digitally modelled the columns. Capturing every detail and creating precise measurements for the design, they ensured that the specifications of this model were accurate for the laser cutting and computer controlled folding, and the later assembly. After supplying the final production information to Lasershape , a precision metal fabrication company, they used their advanced nesting and fibre laser cutting technology to cut the sheet metal into the parts, before adding the 90 degree folds to the trunks. In order to install the columns, other related tasks in the project programme had to be completed. The supporting concrete pile foundations needed to be poured and set, and the structure that the columns support needed to be in place and propped. Having been shipped to the site in parts, our experienced on-site professionals assembled the steel columns, bolting the components together following the precise instructions sent from the studio. The trees were then installed from the top down, first being fixed to a steel beam in the floor above before being secured at the base where any minor tolerances could be adjusted. Overall, the installation took just half a day and now they are in place we have started to finish the Facit Chassis™ above. To learn more about the manufacturing and construction of our Facit Chassis™ timber frame, read ‘ Focus on: The Facit Chassis (part 1) ’.

Work has been progressing quickly on our first project at Graven Hill. Just 5 months after we took control of the site, with the foundations in place already, we are in the final straight and heading toward completion. You can read all about the project journey on our client’s ‘Build It’ blog: Marc & Laura’s Graven Hill Journey Find out more about working with Facit Homes at Graven Hill

Having established a project brief at the outset, and after looking at the zoning of rooms, orientation on the site and key design opportunities we want to explore, the next stage for a new Facit Home is the concept design. At this point we respond to all the information we have gathered about our client’s requirements and desires, as well as the site itself, in order to start piecing together the puzzle. We keep things fairly loose to start with, but having notionally agreed where the internal spaces might be, and how they will relate to each other and be used, our architects can begin working up floor plans and testing out concepts and ideas with the client. As Marc and Laura’s custom build plot is at Graven Hill, we are working to a ‘Plot Passport’ which lays out some basic parameters for the design of their new home. The reason for this passport is twofold. Plot Passport example Firstly, it allows some semblance of order and design narrative to be maintained across the development by defining a ‘build zone’ for the home within each plot, area and height limits and also an exterior material palette, so that whilst there is plenty of design freedom for the form there will be a coherence to the streetscape. Secondly, with the development gaining outline planning permission for homes that adhere to the plot passport in advance, the reserved matters process is streamlined down to 28 days, meaning that as long as we follow the guidelines we’ll get planning approval in half the normal time. Custom build is all about making the process of building your own home more straightforward and speeding things up, and this is a great example of that in action. With the desire for open plan, flowing living spaces for the family to enjoy across the ground floor, our layout focused on the kitchen being the fulcrum of the home. There were also a few features that Marc and Laura wanted us to try and work in, such as an outdoor space for the master suite and a laundry chute going directly in to the utility room. The plans evolved a few times, with spaces being swapped over and pushed and pulled a little until we found something that everyone feels really works. The study moved to the first floor to allow views on to the hill and the TV snug was swapped to the northern side to let more light in to the main living spaces from the south, whilst the ‘back of house’ area was rationalised to be as efficient as possible. Alongside the plans, which influence the form of the building, we are also considering the elevations during this stage. Different concepts and ideas are explored in order to bring expression and character to the home, including materials as well as roof forms and window sizes/positions. As part of the process at Graven Hill, Marc and Laura review the design with their Development Liaison Manager to ensure that we are meeting the milestone dates as well as the rules of the plot passport. It is in everyone’s interest for the process to run smoothly and in this way any potential issues get flagged up early and can be resolved One of the main concepts we all liked was to bring natural light in to the central kitchen area and so the first floor steps back on one side to allow a row of skylights to wash light in to the space. As we are already designing with a 3D model on the computer at this point, we can explore the interior spaces in realistic detail which makes it so much easier to understand the effects of such decisions. Marc and Laura both have busy jobs, so design reviews have been a mix of phone calls, emailed presentations, Skype video chats with a shared screen and face to face meetings. It’s an iterative process at this stage, with each move taking us closer to the prize. Every decision about one space can affect others and so it is a challenging but rewarding process when everything comes together. We discuss each step with Marc and Laura to ensure that they like where it is headed, can feed back their own thoughts and ideas and understand how the design is evolving. By the time this stage has finished we will be about 80% there in terms of the overall design. The last 20% is when the next layer of detail is added and the design is developed and resolved in to a piece of architecture that is ready for planning submission. There will still be plenty of design work beyond that, including deciding on interior finishes and specification, but we will be well on the way toward getting started on site, keeping on that fast track to completion.

The process of building your own home in the UK has almost universally been referred to as ‘self build’. In 2011, the Government’s Housing Strategy for England introduced the concept of ‘custom build’. Rather than doing everything yourself, including finding a suitable plot of land as you would expect a self-builder to, custom build involves working with a specialist company like Facit Homes to help deliver a home on a ready-made, serviced plot, whilst still tailoring the design to your exact requirements. With the main hurdle of finding a plot on which you can get planning permission already overcome, and a larger panel of mortgage lenders willing to finance the project as many of the usual risks have been mitigated, custom build has the potential to open up the opportunity of building your own home to a much wider audience. The largest custom build development in the UK is the pioneering Graven Hill, near Bicester in Oxfordshire, which is located on an old 188 hectare MOD site. Promising to deliver 1,900 new homes over 10 years, around 40% of that total will be made up of serviced plots on which people can build the homes they want from scratch. Graven Hill site illustration Facit Homes were approached by a London-based couple, Marc and Laura, in the summer of 2017 whilst they were in discussion with the team at Graven Hill about suitable plots for their future home on the site. A long held desire to build their own home had for years been tempered by the enormity of the challenge. As Marc says “The effort of finding a suitable plot and battling through planning, with all the associated risks and unknowns was just not something we wanted to take on. So the ‘plug and play’ concept of custom build seemed like the perfect answer to the problem, smoothing the path and making it feel achievable. I really don’t think we would have done it otherwise.” They had been keeping an eye on Graven Hill for a while, the first phase of which was launched in summer 2016. “Graven Hill is in an area we know and is close to the Cotswolds which is a place we love. As well as the advantages of purchasing a serviced plot, we were attracted by the kind of community it will create, being mostly made up of people like us who have decided to build their own home. The masterplan looks well thought out and it will have all of the basic infrastructure we need such as a primary school and is an easy commute in to London for work.” With a couple of plots under consideration, Marc and Laura were poised to make a decision when at the last minute the perfect plot came back on to the market. Situated on a quiet, rural road, it was slightly larger than the others and looks out on to the site’s main feature, a hill on top of which sits an ancient woodland. Having already had a number of discussions with us about the aspirations for their new home, as well as the budget, they felt confident enough to reserve the plot straight away and appoint us to the project. ”We’d seen Facit Homes on Grand Designs a number of years ago and the unique process stuck in our minds. We thought it was such a revolutionary idea so when we decided to look for a plot at Graven Hill they were always going to be in the running. The idea of a single company who would take the project from start to finish and guide us through the whole journey really appealed to us. We get to be a part of the team during the design stage but can then leave it to the professionals to crack on and build our home, so it’s the best of both worlds.” As we had already worked up an outline project brief with Marc and Laura by this point, we were able to get straight on with the concept design after their kick-off meeting with our architect. With all of the statutory requirements and infrastructure being taken care of by Graven Hill and a streamlined planning application process, the programme is on a fast track and we plan to have them settled in to their new high performance home by next Christmas. Initial ground floor zoning diagram For Marc and Laura it promises to be a dream come true. “We’ve always been fascinated with the idea of putting down on a piece of paper how we want to live in a home and then watching as it comes to life. To live in something that we’ve had a hand in designing, rather than something that was made for someone else; it’s the ultimate way of creating order for your own life.” Initial first floor zoning diagram We plan to follow the project across a series of blog posts, explaining more about the overall custom build process along the way in the hope of inspiring more people to seek out such developments for their own homes. Find out more about Graven Hill at gravenhill.co.uk

Following its completion at the end of last year, we recently spent a couple of days photographing Anya & Robin’s new Facit Home in North London. The family are really settled in their new home and having enjoyed a warm and cosy winter in the super-insulated property they are now making great use of the big bi-fold doors at the back for some true indoor/outdoor living. Take a look at the full client story in the Projects section –  Anya & Robin

With less than 10 weeks left on the programme we are now entering the final straight in Highgate with our project architect, George, ensuring every little detail is correct and site agent, Joe, coordinating a plethora of deliveries, trades and specialists. Everyone is fully committed to completing Anya and Robin’s new family home in time for them to move in on schedule. On the outside, the GRC cladding panels have arrived and are just being mounted on the ground floor elevations. These lightweight concrete panels are around 1000 x 1500mm, with grooved vertical lines giving them a rich texture. Meanwhile, on the floors above the render is going on perfectly and should be finished in the next couple of days. We can’t wait to see the final result, with the concept drawings from the beginning of the project finally becoming a reality. Inside the final finishes are nearly all in, with the tiling in the bathrooms completed and the sanitary ware installed. On the ground floor we have installed all of the flooring, with large format tiles in the entrance hall running through in to the kitchen and engineered timber floors to the other spaces. Next week will also see the tread and riser finishes going on to our digitally manufactured staircases as well as the bespoke metal balustrades which are being fabricated to our design. Their slim spindles are going to look really elegant and give lightness to the space with a lot of thought going in to the key detail of how they are fitted and relate to the stair finish. Elsewhere there has been a lot of joinery installed, with fitted wardrobes to the bedrooms and master suite as well as the bespoke kitchen units arriving on site to be fitted by specialists. As always the site is a hive of activity but it is all taking shape nicely, just as a Facit Home should.

It’s all systems go as we press on toward the finish line of the project. It still feels like there is a lot to do but the progress is fairly rapid and each day on site results in lots of visible changes. With all sorts of activities taking place both inside and out, the home is truly coming to life before our eyes. The internal fit out is now very much in full swing, with bathrooms starting to get their second fix and sanitary ware being installed. With 6 bathrooms and a ground floor WC, there is a lot for our teams to put in, but careful coordination by our site agent means that things are going smoothly. The staircases are all in (so no more ladders between floors!) having been lovingly designed and engineered in the studio and then produced on site by the CNC machine in our Mobile Production Facility. The canopy over the front door was also produced before the MPF was finally taken off site, its work completed. This was one of the tightest spaces that we have ever squeezed the unit on to but it was a true embodiment of a Facit Homes project, with sheets of plywood arriving on site and being transformed in to precise, digitally designed elements such as the stairs. External finishes are due to start next week, with the rendering on the first and second floor elevations being done first. At ground floor level there will be a Glass Reinforced Concrete cladding, a hard wearing material which has the appearance of stone and will give the home a solid, robust presence at street level. The way these two materials meet is a really important detail and we have been setting out a fabricated aluminium angle piece which will form a nice clean edge between them.

Once our buildings are watertight the activity within continues at a strong pace. We have now finished most of the first fix electrics and plumbing and are currently plaster boarding the walls and plastering some of the rooms. Walking around you really get a sense of the finished house. This is our first project that features a basement pool so we’ve been looking forward to it taking shape. The pool enclosure has been constructed and the basement team are now preparing the floor so that we can insulate and lay the underfloor heating and screed. In the next few weeks we will be installing the door frames and doors as well as the structure for the staircases down to the pool and up to the garden. So far, the build process has been pretty smooth, planning is everything! Like most homeowners, when it comes to the interiors everyone gets very excited and creative. We have just been picking all the tiling and the timber floor finish for the ground floor and the staircase with our client Anya. The tiling in the pool area is going to be fantastic with a dark blue mosaic tile in the pool and then a very light stone tile on the floor and on three of the walls. The beauty of our method of digital manufacture is that we produce all the component parts of the house on site. This cuts down on wastage and greatly reduces our carbon footprint. We are currently making the internal staircases followed by the front canopy over the door. The English summer hasn’t let us down but luckily we were water tight before any really terrible storms hit. Now we are mostly working on the interior so the weather isn’t affecting us that much, although we could do with a bit more sun! While we are cracking on with the build, out of respect for the adjoining neighbours who work hard in the week, we are trying to keep weekend working to a minimum so they get a bit of peace and quiet. And it also means that our fabulous team returns refreshed and ready for action on Mondays.