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It’s an exciting time in the studio! Designs are progressing, planning approvals are coming through, projects are getting underway on site and we’ve seen a huge influx of enquiries so there is plenty more on the horizon... The good news this week is that our latest planning application for a new home near Sevenoaks has been approved by the local planning authority. Updating an existing design Our customers got in touch with us earlier this year having gained planning permission for a contemporary, single storey home to replace the stables on a plot of land attached to their existing house. What they did not have was a way to bring their forever home to life, as they really wanted to minimise the risk of the project by working with a single company who offered a fixed price construction solution. Luckily, they discovered Facit Homes. The contemporary design for the 165m2 home had a flat roof, large windows and eco aspirations so it was the perfect starting point for a Facit Home. As this example shows, we can be appointed to projects that have been designed by other architects, taking them forward to construction by making some small changes to the design where necessary. Here, we kept the overall intent of the design concept but evolved it to allow for the deeper roof of our super-insulated the Facit Chassis™. Unusually for such minor design amendments, we had to submit a new full planning application. This carried no additional planning fees because it was a re-submission for the same scheme within 12 months of the original application. Technical design is nearly complete and we are starting on site ASAP. Have you got a design for a new home? Our digital approach allows us to deliver homes designed by others, amending the design and planning permission if required, whilst still offering all the inherent benefits of a Facit Home - quality, value and environmental performance. If you have a design for your dream home and you’re looking for a fixed price, a turnkey solution and a sustainable method of construction, get in touch to discuss it with us. Call the studio on 020 3034 0720 or email info@facit-homes.com .

Research and development (R&D) is a constant at Facit Homes. We’re always exploring new opportunities to digitise our daily processes and core products. Modifications to the Facit Chassis™  can have a big effect on operations. Improving the digital design and manufacture of our advanced structural system delivers value in the form of project, cost and order management precision. CNC ply partition walls in our first project. Changing the status quo We've been using timber studs to build the internal walls of a Facit Home for years now. A stud is a vertical piece of timber used as part of a structural wall or non load-bearing partition. Also known as wall studs, they are a key part of traditional timber frame build systems. Timber studs are easy to use , lightweight, adaptable, and can be clad and infilled with a variety of materials to give different finishes and properties. However, they were the one part of our Facit Chassis™ that had to be manually cut and built on site. Timber stud internal walls in our North London project. So, we decided to re-explore digitally manufacturing these internal walls. If we could successfully expand the CNC cut plywood system of the external Facit Chassis™ to the internal walls, we would be able to better integrate the positioning of electric fixtures and cables and reduce the work required on site. CNC is the Computer Numerically Controlled cutting process of our FSC plywood superstructure. This is digital manufacturing . After researching this move, and striving to make it a cost effective change, the increases in the cost of labour and decreased availability of skilled workers across the industry provided the perfect opportunity to pilot this latest development. FSC plywood is more expensive than stud timber but this increase in material cost and production are offset by time savings in the project plan. Updating the Facit Chassis™ Our ethos of digitisation at Facit Homes focuses on moving away from traditional construction in order to increase accuracy in each project. Engineering a new digital solution to the very practical issues of cost, time and labour for internal wall construction, we’ve reduced the time spent manually fabricating these internal walls on site (as well as the possibility of mistakes). Digitally manufacturing internal walls as part of the same CNC cut plywood component system we use for the Facit Chassis™ was a no brainer. But it wasn’t as simple as it might sound. Design v Reality. The original CNC ply partition walls in our first project. Originally, we did digitally manufacture the internal walls for our first Facit Home in 2012 (as seen above) as part of the Facit Chassis™. However, these partition walls were not load-bearing. They took a long time to get right in each BIM design and when we started to design load-bearing internal walls, we chose to follow the advice of our structural engineers and use timber studs instead. BIM stands for Building Information Modelling. It is an intelligent and advanced 3D digital design model. As a manual process in our advanced structure, the timber stud walls weren’t initially part of the BIM designs. But, in order to improve the accuracy for orders and costing, we did develop a BIM family to help us determine material quantities for the studs. The timber stud BIM family was useful so we continued to develop it to accommodate angled ceilings and other more complex designs. It allowed us to better predict the positioning of the stud walls and coordinate the installation of electric fixtures and cables. Calculations became more refined as R&D continued through the years. However, despite our best efforts, material calculation and coordination of services continued to be a challenge. We often ended up with more material than we needed, and electric fixtures still sometimes clashed with the stud walls. It was an imperfect solution because we were still making an analogue, handmade version of a digital design. The best of both worlds Developing a parametric design for load-bearing CNC ply internal walls has allowed us to start to digitally manufacture structural internal walls as part of our sustainable plywood Facit Chassis™ build system. Now able to incorporate services in our 3D model, we can improve the predictability of material required and reduce the need to manually work the walls on site. This is digitising construction in action. CNC ply partition walls; Timber studs; CNC ply structural walls. 3 generations of Facit internal walls and an unused (overcomplicated) prototype. Parametric design is based on algorithmic thinking. Parameters and rules establish the relationship between elements of the design. It allows infinite variations of our Facit Chassis™ model to be set up and for this data to be used for processing and tracking. Our models are dynamic and interconnected. Information can be extracted for manufacture and real data from our construction sites can be fed back into them for future analysis. In real terms, it means that any changes to one part of the building model will automatically update relevant parts at the same time. Testing the prototype assembly DfMA (Design for Manufacture and Assembly) is an industry approach that we use to focus on designing for ease of manufacture and efficiency of assembly. It ensures that our site operations and project cost management are optimised by design. Marking up the physical prototype for the next iteration. This development of our CNC cut structural internal walls shows DfMA in action. To start with, a digital prototype of the structural internal wall was created. It was a very complex model that had options for power sockets, light switches, reinforcement posts, ducts and pipes. We built a physical prototype to get a better understanding of the component and assembly complexity. This iteration was deemed to be overly complicated. It had too many parts, it was difficult to manage and testing showed that it was prone to assembly mistakes. After further discussion and refinement, and following advice from our structural engineers, Milner Associates , we developed a simpler version of the internal wall. Testing showed that this design resolved the issues of the previous iteration and delivered the same benefits. The design was approved! Learn more about the Facit Home Discover more about our high performance building envelope - the Facit Chassis™ - by visiting this page .  Our article on the Facit Chassis™  is also useful. If you're interested in building your own home and considering our timber superstructure as a solution, contact the studio on 020 3034 0720 or email info@facit-homes.com .

Our highly engineered Facit Chassis™️ is digitally designed and manufactured to meet the highest possible standards of environmental performance. This latest FSC timber superstructure, for a large family home in North London, is a perfect example of how our intelligently coordinated approach to construction is used to successfully deliver projects with a high level of complexity. The construction plan. Digitally manufacturing a Facit Home After the digital design of this home was finalised by our in-house architects using BIM (Building Information Modelling, our intelligent 3D design software), work began to put the project into production. Approximately 3 months before we start erecting the chassis on site, our production team specifies every little detail and translates the complex digital design into G code, a computer language that allows us to automate the manufacture of plywood sheets using CNC (computer numerically controlled) machines. The CNC machine operating on site. The digital manufacturing  of the plywood Facit Chassis™️ components can take place on site or off site, depending on the project. On site manufacturing  involves the delivery of the CNC machine to site in a shipping container. Off site means the manufacture takes place in the London workshop and involves regular deliveries of ready-assembled components in order to site. Each FSC plywood component is unique and numbered accordingly to give an accurate order of installation. Each component is designed and engineered to guide assembly, with dedicated spaces, channels and compartments for cables, ducts and pipes so that services and products can be installed as work continues to the home. The intelligent installation of the timber structure speeds up the construction phase and reduces time spent on site. The main stages of Facit Chassis™ construction Groundworks  are completed before the installation of the timber frame Facit Chassis ™  begins. At this point, the footprint of the home is just a concrete slab and is ready to be transformed into a contemporary home. 1. Fix sole plates The first step is to fix sole plates to the concrete slab. Sole plates are timber boards that must be fixed around the perimeter to signal exactly where the ground floor external wall components will be installed. While this is happening, the wall components are delivered to the site ready for installation. 2. External walls Once delivered, the external walls for the ground floor are fixed onto the sole plates by our team of on site professionals. In order to be load bearing and to make up the thermal envelope of the home, these walls must be perfectly vertical and level. Timber is a great construction material, but there is sometimes a little bit of deviation (especially with weather exposure) so components are held in place by timber braces until the structure is complete. This is so they remain flush with the sole plates. 3. Internal load bearing walls To mark progress, the first components installed were signed by our customers. As work progressed, the ground floor components installed started to reveal the shape of the home and the door and window portals. Internal load bearing walls were next to be completed. 4. Steel beams The steel specified for the ground floor reinforces the structure where necessary. It allowed us to design a three storey home with an open plan ground floor, a large opening for bifold doors and a first floor overhang in one corner. Before, during and after steel installation, the ground floor headers and beams are installed (see third pic). These are placed on top of the external and internal walls so that the first floor beams can be fixed onto them. 5. First floor install In order to complete the first floor, scaffolding is required. The scaffolding started to go up as the ground floor was completed. First floor beams were positioned in place by the team and posi joists were installed to create the bare bones of a first floor. Posi joists have metal hangers that allow ductwork and pipes to move through the gaps. The floor components are always accurately designed to slot neatly between the post joists, so these were dropped into place by the team. A rubber mallet (dubbed "the persuader") can be used if components are stubborn. The floor is complete! 6. Starting again For the work on the first floor to continue, we started fixing sole plates and external walls. Like layers of a cake, this step-by-step process follows the same system as the ground floor, with internal walls and floor components following suit. Works often happen to multiple parts of the structure simultaneously. Our rigorous construction programme allows us to be efficient in our use of manufacturing and on site manpower. For example, while the main external envelope of the chassis was going up past the first floor, some of the team kept working on the ground floor installation - in particular, the non-load bearing internal stud walls. Progressing the works to the ground floor and first floor at the same time meant we could maximise output on site. Digitally manufacturing a roof In order to maximise the usable space in the top floor of this home, we digitally designed a mansard type roof shape that would allow the maximum amount of full height space on this floor. Roof beams Digital manufacturing roof beams with stiff corners allowed us to do just that. The beams are held in place by unique junction boxes that we digitally fabricated in-house to replace a previously handmade solution. Digitising construction in action! The laser cut steel sleeve holds the two timber beams in place. These would have otherwise been joined by two loose plates. This digitally manufactured product saves time and reduces complexity on site, plus it is adjustable in our digital model. 2. Roof components No need for posi joists in this stage, the roof components are designed to fit within the roof beams and timber studs. The roof had some quite complex geometry going on, especially above the stairs. Digitally manufacturing the home from timber allowed us to create precise and bespoke components to accommodate the unusual geometry. 3. Topping out ceremony Once the roof beams were in place, we installed the final roof component in a topping out ceremony with our customers to celebrate the milestone. 4. Breather membrane Once the entire Facit Chassis™️ was complete, we wrapped the building in bright yellow Frametite, a breather membrane that ensures the home is both airtight and resistant to condensation. Moisture vapour passes through the layer and can disperse to the outside atmosphere without being cooled, thus eliminating issues such as condensation and mould growth. 5. Bespoke ventilated roof components Digitally designed and manufactured in our studio, the bespoke ventilated roof components have slots that enable the airflow to remove excess humidity from the building. Essential for a timber home! Once installed, the ventilated components were covered in a layer of plywood as a substrate for the zinc roof. 6. Standing seam zinc panels The standing seams for the zinc panels were manufactured on site using a profiling machine and the panels were then installed on top of a second membrane. The roof install meant that the rooftop yoga that our team on site had been doing every morning had to move to the lower floors! Internal work, such as the bespoke oak and steel staircase is taking place while the external finishes (render and Equitone panelling) are completed. Stay tuned! Thinking about building your dream home? For more information and to find out whether we could build your home using the Facit Chassis™️ DFMA system, call the studio on 020 3034 0720 or info@facit-homes.com.

The future of house building is digitising construction. Bruce Bell, CEO and Founder of Facit Homes, joined Ben Adam-Smith for his latest House Planning Help podcast .  They discuss the origins of Facit Homes, the potential of digital manufacturing and why construction needs to change. Drawn to the potential of using digital manufacturing for building homes while working in architecture, Bruce’s unique journey to establish Facit Homes as an innovative alternative led to an interesting discussion on the key differences between prefabrication and digital manufacturing in construction. “Bruce Bell's working life has been spent at the intersection between the digital side of construction and architecture. He originally studied industrial design but then went on to work for Norman Foster's architecture practice in London.” Touching on how a typical project works, Bruce described what happens behind the scenes and explained Facit Homes’ holistic approach to sustainability and digitising traditional processes as much as possible. Digital connectivity in the industry is key. Ben also spoke to our first ever Facit Homes customers, Diana and Celia, in 2014  to explore the innovation and experience of their project. Listen to the podcast Discover the experience of turnkey projects, the journey to perfect the technology and the merits of onsite manufacturing. Discover Facit Homes. Listen to the podcast here.

The latest UN climate change report  confirms what we already know - that the climate emergency is real. So, if you’re planning to build your own home, there is an undeniable obligation to make it as energy efficient and as sustainable as you can. As we move toward net-zero carbon emissions as a society, the changes will undoubtedly have an effect on energy prices. Building a low carbon home is therefore both sustainable and sensible. It will protect you from fluctuations in energy prices over the coming decades. What makes a home ‘eco’? An eco home has the lowest possible impact on the environment. Building homes that require less energy to run is one way we can effectively reduce carbon emissions for the future, as well as reducing running costs right now. “This could mean that its construction process and materials limit the amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced, for example, or that the resulting house is designed to require minimal energy to run.” [ Source: Homebuilding. ] In order to truly deserve the term ‘eco’, a new build must consider both the embodied energy used in construction as well as the operational performance of the finished home. Embodied energy is the total sum of energy used to create something. It is the calculated environmental impact of every activity involved, including the carbon emissions produced from things like manufacturing and transport. We’ve found that the simplest and most effective ways to achieve low embodied energy are using sustainable timber and low waste products, and efficient management of the project to reduce emission-intensive activities, such as deliveries. 6 ways in which we build eco homes: Prioritise energy preservation: create a building envelope with excellent thermal performance that optimises the retention of heat in the home Orientate the home to be south facing (where possible) and include large, triple glazed windows to warm it naturally using solar gain Use natural and sustainable materials, e.g. timber Minimise the use of large machinery Reduce waste by choosing the right products, such as blown insulation Add renewable/sustainable energy sources, such as solar panels  or an air source heat pump Homebuilding magazine has a helpful outline  of what to expect from an eco home. Minimising the environmental impact Did you know that global CO2 emissions could be reduced by 31% if builders used wood  instead of steel and concrete? Minimising our environmental impact and carbon footprint is vitally important. Our pragmatic approach to incorporating environmentally friendly practices involves constantly evaluating products and processes in manufacturing and construction so we can #DecarboniseConstruction  as much as possible. 1. Material choices can make a big difference. The superstructure of each Facit Home is manufactured from FSC plywood. As wood stores carbon, the home itself becomes a carbon sink. We use non-ferrous metals whenever possible. Zinc is one of these metals and is often used for the roof. Non-ferrous metals are recyclable and reusable. We use as little concrete and steel as possible. For example, our super-insulated raft foundation has just a 100mm concrete slab, which works as the structure and thermal mass as well as containing the underfloor heating system. We get the most out of the concrete we do use. Our products are chosen to reduce waste. For example, our blown insulation is easy to install and fills our timber components completely without needing to be cut to size out of large boards, which would create waste in offcuts. 2. We follow a fabric first approach  and engineer each Facit Home to be highly airtight and insulated so that they are highly energy efficient to run. Airtightness and insulation ensure that very little (if any) heat is lost from the structure. 3. Renewable energy t echnology , such as solar panels or air source heat pumps, is incorporated whenever possible. It is always the customer’s choice, but balancing the environmental impact with the needs of the customer and the budget is integral to our approach. Ensuring our construction projects are cost-effective as well as eco-friendly is important. With outstanding environmental performance as standard with a Facit Home, our customers can afford to build an eco home even if it’s not something they feel strongly about. Embodied energy in construction While it is difficult to measure the sustainability of a construction project, using natural, replenishable resources with low embodied energy is a great place to start. A few years ago, we researched the environmental impact of construction. We calculated the embodied energy of our projects in comparison to traditional practices and created a conversion table to make sense of data that isn’t easily comparable. More and more homes are being built to better standards of energy efficiency, but this also means that those buildings are likely to contribute more CO2 emissions in construction than in the energy usage of the following 50-100 years. The next logical step is to consider and evaluate construction choices to reduce those emissions too. Comparing sustainable timber with other recyclable products shows how each choice can make a big difference to the carbon footprint. “Concrete, steel, cement and glass are among the most frequently used construction materials. But they emit enormous amounts of carbon, making the building and construction sector responsible for 39% of all carbon emissions in the world. Wood does just the opposite: rather than emitting carbon, it stores it. Using wood for construction saves about 40% of carbon emissions in comparison to concrete and 30% in comparison to steel.” [ Source: PEFC. ] But I should build a Passivhaus, right? Building an eco home is a simpler and more cost-effective choice, even considering the years of slightly lower operational energy usage that would follow in a Passivhaus. In a direct performance comparison, a Passivhaus will be more energy efficient  than another eco home. They are the gold standard of energy efficiency, but the Passivhaus standards don’t cover or calculate the carbon emissions of construction, so housebuilders are free to use more materials with a higher carbon footprint, like concrete or polyurethane insulation. The embodied energy of the project is likely to be higher and it can be more expensive to try to reach the stringent Passivhaus standards. Comparing the carbon emissions created in construction of a Passivhaus with the slightly better performance over the years, we think that its better to keep construction emissions as low as possible in our projects. To read more on the subject, visit the latest article in The Guardian - 'What will our eco-friendly homes of the future look like?' Eco homes do not all look like a cabin in the woods! High performance homes Our environmental philosophy is about taking a holistic approach to sustainability, energy efficiency and renewable energy that allows us to create high performance homes with a low construction carbon footprint. Combined with elegant contemporary designs and a complete turnkey service, we offer a perfect solution for creating your own eco home. For more information about building a high performance home with us, contact Rhys at info@facit-homes.com  or call the studio on 020 3034 0720.

If you’ve watched our Grand Designs episode , you’ll know that we started building homes by digitally manufacturing the bespoke timber components using a CNC machine in a shipping container on site. It’s been 10 years since that episode was filmed in Hertfordshire - which is a happy coincidence because we are now moving back to those original methods of manufacturing each Facit Chassis ™. Pedro, now our Head of Production, operating the CNC router back in 2011. After the Grand Designs episode, we spent 4 years digitally manufacturing Facit Chassis™ components on-site before moving this activity to our workshop in London. The ambition to innovate construction has always been at the heart of Facit Homes. By refurbishing our machine and returning to our original, unique method of on-site manufacturing, we're returning to what made our first projects so special. Our latest design and build project in East Sussex has been the perfect opportunity to reinstate this process. A beautiful site with plenty of space for the container, we can’t wait to start CNC cutting on site soon. On-site production will reduce the number of component deliveries to the site, as we will receive the FSC plywood in flat sheets in one delivery and they will be converted into components on demand. What does on-site digital manufacturing involve? In short: operating our computer-numerically-controlled (CNC) router from a shipping container. Whether taking place on-site or off, the sheets of FSC sourced sustainable plywood are cut by the programmed machine and then the flat shapes were assembled to become components (knocked together using a mallet and filled with insulation once in place). The CNC router in action. The robotic arm has a spinning blade programmed to cut the sheet into shapes according to our production information (translated into G code - the computer language that controls the actions of this automated machinery). Still not sure what we’re talking about? Learn more about digital manufacturing here .

Facit Homes is the proud new owner of the ‘Timber Frame Project of the Year’ award from the Structural Timber Awards 2020. Stour House in Suffolk is one of our most ambitious project to date and we’re very proud to have it recognised by another industry voice, after winning ‘Best Out of London Home’  at the Evening Standards Awards in 2019 . Set in an incredible rural location, this home really shows off the architectural possibilities of our timber Facit Chassis, so on Wednesday afternoon we excitedly tuned into the virtual platform to view the Structural Timber Awards ceremony. We interacted with the ‘expo’ rooms they had created for networking and found the event to be a celebratory occasion for the many extraordinary projects entered. After experiencing the first part of the awards, seeing the many worthy entries and winners and carefully watching our ‘Custom & Self Build Project of the Year’ category, we got back to work. This meant that we actually missed the second part of the ceremony - where our surprise award for the ‘Timber Frame Project of the Year’ was announced! It’s a lesson learnt for future virtual events! Thankfully, our lead architect Fanis was keeping a watchful eye on things and informed the team. This category is “awarded to the overall highest scoring entry for a project built using Timber Frame technology” and we are very grateful for this recognition. A big thanks to the Structural Timber Awards team for their organisation and perseverance in these difficult times. It was great to have a positive afternoon with familiar industry names, albeit online. Congratulations to all finalists and winners!

Before a beautiful new home starts to take shape above ground, there is the slightly more mucky task of preparing the site with underground foundations and drainage. This is known as groundworks. Each site is unique and has its own individual requirements when it comes to working in the ground. Tricky access or sloping ground are common characteristics that don’t have to be project threatening but need careful thought. As a potentially complicated and risky part of a project, choosing a turnkey company (like Facit Homes) that does absolutely everything, including groundworks, is an intelligent choice. Our digital groundworks plan in a helpful diagram for our site team. Demolition For many of our customers, we replace an existing dwelling. So, the first step before the groundworks is to demolish that building. Building new is often a more practical option for those considering refurbishment, extensions or relocation . Mostly because it provides our customers with exactly the home that they want to live in. The demolition of residential properties is generally straightforward and costs around £8,000 - £20,000 for a single property. The actual cost and time it takes depends on the size and complexity of the demolition - for example, a suburban site will likely need a lot more time and care as there are neighbouring properties to protect. It can save on other costs too. Existing service connections to electricity, mains water and sewage can usually be reused, and access to the road can be maintained - as opposed to developing a greenfield plot (although of course, there would be no cost for demolition). Investigating the site Before groundworks can be planned, we take great care to investigate the site, work through the options and carry out our due diligence to ensure that stable foundations can be created. Our 3D model and digital designs help us to provide early solutions to site issues such as steep slopes. Step 1. We work with a specialist surveyor to conduct a thorough geotechnical investigation which involves creating boreholes and testing the soil to show the physical makeup of the ground. This might also involve carrying out tree root investigations to determine the impact of any roots on the foundations. Step 2. Based on this information we determine what we believe will be the optimum foundation design and most practical solution for the site, for example a raft foundation, piles or strip footings. Step 3. Our structural engineers then provide an interpretative report of the investigation results and confirm our foundation solution or propose any changes based on their analysis. When deciding the best foundations for a site, we usually choose a product based system as they fit best with our digital approach and can be designed and manufactured to our exact requirements. Choose simplicity when you need it most. Groundworks with Facit Homes As part of our turnkey service, we take care of the complicated details whilst putting our customers in control of decision making. Turnkey is inspired by ‘turning the key’ and means that we provide our customers with a ready-to-use product, taking care of the project from design and planning to demolition, groundworks and construction. We do also take on construction-only projects, so whether we’re building our own design or that of another architect, we take great pride in providing intelligent construction and strong foundations as part of that. Groundworks in North London For our latest project, a unique family home, the first step was to demolish the existing 1970s home. Before they found us, our customers had researched renovating and extending their home in an attempt to improve the spaces and reduce the energy bills. Instead, they found they could design and build their dream home with us in a more cost-effective way - with less compromise. The site pre groundworks. In order to demolish their draughty existing property, our customers moved into a temporary home and we disconnected the site from the utilities i.e. gas, electricity and water. Demolition took 4 weeks from start to finish and, once the existing home was gone and the site had been cleared, we graded the footprint of the house to correct the level. Grading the footprint of the home involves flattening the area of the building (measured by the outer edges) to the right height. The site was also cleared of all other materials, such as the driveway surface and other hard landscaping. Demolition complete and groundworks well underway. Once the building area was levelled and ready for construction work to begin, we started to excavate trenches in order to create strip footing foundations for the house. Strip foundations (or strip footings) are a type of shallow foundation that are used to provide a continuous strip of support to a linear structure, such as a wall built centrally above them. Resolving the steepness of the driveway One of the biggest site challenges for this project was the steep driveway. By bringing one side of the driveway down to the street level we created better access for the new house, and a flatter surface for cars to be parked on. The other side of the driveway was closed off by retaining walls that raised the level up to create a proper front garden outside the new front door. This meant a large and complex groundworks package with lots of changes to the levels of the site and the installation of essential retaining walls to mould the site into a more practical design. Design for the retaining walls. Our 3D digital model for this stage detailed retaining walls in order to support the different ground levels. After excavating the driveway, we built the retaining walls into the landscape and backfilled the site to create the two distinct levels. Backfilling is the process of reusing the soil removed during the excavation work to build up the correct levels of the site behind the retaining structures. To retain the earth in the landscape outside the footprint of the building, the retaining walls were built using a Stepoc  system. This involves hollow Stepoc concrete blocks engineered to fit together before concrete is poured into the gaps from above. The Stepoc retaining wall system Next, we installed underground drainage. This system of pipes and fittings is installed below ground level to transport foul drainage and rainwater away from the building. Following this, we reconnected the utilities to a new external meter box on site. Once this was complete, we could start to install the beam and block foundations. Strong foundations A raised, insulated beam and block is one of two solutions that we use at Facit Homes. The area has clay soil, which meant the most appropriate foundation system was a combination of beam and block and concrete strip footings. Clay soil is subject to something known as 'heave' where the clay soil swells and shrinks as it absorbs and releases moisture. Tree roots exacerbate the issue, even if the tree has been felled. Generally, this means we need to create a gap between the ground and the slab. This site was slightly complicated because parts of the strip footings needed to also act as the retaining walls for the newly lowered driveway. The beam and block foundations post install. Beam and block foundations are quick to install . The resulting labour savings make it cost-effective, too, despite the slightly higher cost of the materials. The other benefits are improved acoustic performance, higher thermal mass and greater fire resistance. What’s more, the beams and blocks are inert material so they are unaffected by damp, rot or vermin. Spot the underfloor heating system underneath a mesh protective layer. The underfloor heating system was laid on top of the beam and block foundations and pressure tested to ensure there were no leaks. Concrete was then poured on top to create a slab that keeps the heating pipes in position. The concrete slab is heated up by the underfloor pipes, which in turn warms the floor. This approach avoids inconsistent patches in underfloor warmth. To finish off the groundworks, we power floated the concrete slab to create an even surface. This approach uses the minimum amount of concrete possible for the slab. Including the underfloor heating zone it is just 100mm thick so it is very efficient. For more information about how we can help build your home, please contact the studio on 020 3034 7020 or email info@facit-homes.com

Cladding is a key architectural design choice and timber cladding products are sustainable and attractive as well as contributing to thermal performance. Also called ‘external finishes’, cladding provides a skin or final layer to the exterior of a building and protects each Facit Home from the elements. As our Facit Chassis™ is digitally manufactured from FSC spruce plywood and then wrapped in a breather membrane (which is bright yellow!), the choice of cladding material is a key part of the design. Stour House has a combination of vertical Western Red Cedar cladding and aluminium panels. Why use timber for external finishes? We'll hand this question over to our Lead Architect, Fanis. "We carefully consider the cladding we use based on the design, form and function of the home, as well as the surrounding environment. Sustainably sourced timber is a great material that compliments many designs and has a low carbon footprint. A natural and warm material, timber creates welcoming outside spaces, such as balcony terraces and garden patios. It blends in with natural colours and ages gracefully if it is good quality to start with. It is a good cladding material for conservation areas, green belt or AONB areas, and most planning officers recognise it as a sensitive design solution. It creates a distinction from older buildings without being flashy or overwhelming, especially in areas where brick and render are dominant." Timber products We’ve used many different types of timber cladding over the years. We love choosing sustainable timber because, as well as providing a beautiful finish, it reduces the embodied energy of the construction. Embodied energy is the total energy required to build a home (defined by UK Green Building Council as "the total greenhouse gas emissions generated to produce a built asset"). Timber stores carbon so it is a very sustainable choice. For more benefits of using timber in construction, visit this Wood For Good article. There are a wide range of timber materials to choose from, some totally natural, some more processed, and many ways that they can be incorporated into a design. Check out a few of our favourites below. 1. Western Red Cedar Western Red Cedar is precision made by nature, combining the unrivalled beauty of coastal grown Canadian timber with high durability, stability and resistance to decay for the ultimate natural cladding product. Cedar is a softwood that is light in weight and low in density. Not prone to weathering, it is more durable and more stable than many other timber products. Left untreated, the natural oils of the wood are more than enough to protect it from rain and shine for many years. Western Red Cedar - Stour House. 2. Thermowood Thermowood, also known as heat treated timber, is a beautiful, sustainable timber material produced using chemical-free heat treatment. Originally a Scandinavian softwood, the wood colour darkens during the heat treating process and it becomes more stable than normal wood in conditions of changing humidity. Its thermal insulation properties are also improved and the treatment process makes the wood resistant to decay. Charred Thermowood - Flower House. 3. Siberian Larch One of the most naturally hardy timbers, Siberian Larch has a lustrous golden-brown colour and striking grain pattern. The hardness of Siberian Larch, which is highly correlated with its density, makes it difficult for water and fungi to penetrate the wood. This has a positive effect on performance, helping to maintain a better appearance and reducing maintenance. Siberian Larch x Standing Seam Metal - Maltings. Applications Timber is versatile. And it’s not just about choosing what colour and finish, it’s also about choosing how to apply the material to the design. “We can use the timber cladding in different arrangements, like with flooring. Vertical, horizontal, at an angle or in a chevron pattern. The versatility and relatively low cost when compared to other cladding materials, such as zinc or composite stone panels, make timber cladding a very good choice for tighter budgets.” The application and combination of timber materials can have a unique effect. Here are some examples of how timber products can be adapted. 1. Directional cladding Print House showcases the design effect of two types of directional timber cladding. The stained Thermowood is set in a chevron pattern while unstained Western Red Cedar cladding is vertical by contrast. The home is divided into two elements (or wings) - one with a flat roof and another with a pitched roof. Vertical and chevron timber boarding defines those two forms. A vertical timber cladding arrangement can also work on curved walls without any aesthetic compromise. Comparatively, large stone panels would have to be limited in width to follow a curve. 2. Board-on-board timber Board-on-board timber cladding is a textured effect that can work well combined with other cladding materials. A vertical design created using wide trim boards spaced apart with narrower trim boards or battens covering the joins - various combinations are used to create different looks suitable for large or small-scale applications. There are no set board or batten widths. Board-on-board Western Red Cedar x COR-TEN steel. 3. Shiplap cladding Another way to apply timber is in an overlap. Shiplap is like tongue and groove in that the boards click together to create a reliable connection that won’t move, but it has a slight slant to the profile that allows rainwater to run off easily. 4. Charred timber The surface of timber can be burned to create a hard black surface that will protect the timber from insects and mold. This will preserve its appearance for even longer. Charred timber creates a roughness that compliments in its contrast the untreated timber when used together, or other natural materials such as stone and concrete. Charring timber enhances the durability of the material and protects it from the weather. The colour is an additional benefit of this approach. Larch is a tough and durable material and after charring the maintenance is low. It needs oiling every 10-15 years. Most timber products can be charred in this way. Charred Thermowood - Flower House. 5. Stained timber Stained timber is a more cost-effective alternative to charring. Timber stain protects and enhances the natural wood grain, as well as enhancing the colours of the timber. Situated under two lime trees, the exterior of Print House is clad in a timber rain screen coated in a dark stain to reduce the visual impact of the building from the park and reduce the need for ongoing cleaning caused by the dark coloured sap released from the trees. The contrasting sections have Western Red Cedar vertical boarding. Stained Thermowood - Print House. Other types of (non-timber) cladding While we love using FSC timber for our homes, we also enjoy working with other materials, such as COR-TEN steel or Glass Reinforced Concrete, which has the appearance of stone panelling. As seen above, we’ve combined all types of timber products with other materials, like standing seam metal or aluminium panels. If you’re thinking of designing and building your dream home (possibly clad in one of these beautiful timber options), contact us today. Call Rhys in the studio on 020 3034 7021 or email info@facit-homes.com with the details of your project.

November saw us complete our latest project and our customers move into their new home. After buying a house with planning permission for a second dwelling next to it, our customers continued to live on site while their Facit Home was completed next door. Spot the solar panels on the right side of the south facing roof. The permitted design was not very inspiring, so they decided to start again from scratch and create something far more spectacular. Designed to be a significantly larger property than that which had been previously granted planning approval, the issue of a steep slope on the site was solved in the new design which included a first floor entrance. This responds to the dramatic landscape requirements and subverts the traditional experience of entering a home on the ground floor. View from the ground floor kitchen and dining room. Initially designed by local architects Millar Howard Workshop , we were brought in to consult on costs during the design process and to take the project through to completion once planning was approved. Having ensured the design of the home was optimised for our digital manufacturing approach, we were able to provide a detailed cost plan using a 3D computer model of the design prior to the application going in. Our customers decided to have an independent Quantity Surveyor check over these costs - something we were happy to encourage and which reassured them that we were delivering great value for the project. Construction started in February 2020 and would have taken our programmed 7 months had it not been for COVID lockdown delays shortly after we started. Based on the edge of Stroud, the new home has wonderful views overlooking one of the Golden Valleys - which are accentuated and framed by the large, high performance windows from VELFAC . View of the house from an upper level VELFAC window. The elegant standing seam metal roof is made from GreenCoat steel , a long lasting and sustainable product that is (in our opinion) the best coated steel for roofing. Solar panels on the south facing roof will generate renewable electricity. Built to near Passivhaus standards, this home is highly energy efficient and will see our customers spend very little on energy. It also contains a platform lift between the two floors, and has fully wheelchair accessible spaces ensuring it can provide accommodation should mobility be an issue. Standing seam metal roof in construction.

Innovation is at the heart of Facit Homes. That’s why Rhys, Director at Facit Homes, was thrilled to join Tom Connor and Hester McQueen on the Custom Build Homes podcast to better explain to others what we do and how we innovate. Describing a typical project, Rhys touched on what happens off site and on site, as well as explaining why we believe an architect on site is essential. Discussing the new Facit Homes option of Assisted Self Finish, as well as how we de-risk projects for our clients, their conversation covers the accurate cost model we use and how we can build homes that have been initially designed by other architects. Tom and Hester were interested in both the future of Facit Homes as well as the past - most notably the Grand Designs episode at the start of our journey - and how we were flooded by enquiries from America almost 8 years later. Rhys said “I was honoured to have been invited to be a guest on the Custom Build Homes podcast. I’ve known Tom for a few years now and it was great to chat with him and Hester about the custom build industry, as well as Facit Homes projects from past to present.” To learn more about how we digitally design homes and to listen to the podcast, use this vimeo link: https://vimeo.com/441010275 https://open.spotify.com/episode/3j95h1vZA4NImqIuyn4snL

Factory-made Housing: a solution for London New London Architecture has just launched a new exhibition, research paper and series of events to investigate the role of factory methods in delivering the homes London needs. Exploring everything from modular and fully factory fabricated homes through to more innovative approaches and how modern methods of construction can unlock difficult sites, it is a comprehensive look at how architects and manufacturers are finding new ways to meet the current housing demand. Facit Homes is proud to have been included in the programme, with our home for Terry and Mickey featuring as a case study of an individual home. Find out more on the NLA website –  http://newlondonarchitecture.org