EVT Technology Creates Perfect Home

The aim of creating the perfect home has been achieved by private householder, Sandy McDonald, following the construction of a 20-room ‘dream house’, featuring Excel Building Solutions EVT Technology. Designed by Glasgow architects, ARM Architects, the house benefits from the high levels of insulation and healthy living environment provided by EVT Technology and the design freedom afforded the architects by the strong, lightweight Engineered I Beams used to create the entire structure.

Located close to the shores of Loch Lomond in Scotland, within the boundaries of a new national park, the house has a very traditional appearance on the outside, contrasted with a very contemporary design inside.

Commenting on the design of the house, project architect, Reg Aulds explains: “The strength of the Engineered I Beams used to create the roof structure meant that we didn’t need conventional attic trusses and also gave us the freedom to sculpt the roof how we wanted, creating interesting angles and joint details.”

Utilising this capability, the main living area features a dramatic cathedral roof, meeting the walls at window height to add even further interest to the interior design.

The external walls of the house, using the Engineered I Beam construction, were specified to be thicker than the structural requirement to create the effect of a traditional, stone-built property, complete with deep window recesses and sills.

The extra deep 370mm walls of the house, which are totally filled with Warmcel 500 insulation, deliver a phenomenal insulation performance, producing U values of only 0.21 W/m2K. This was particularly important in minimising the space heating costs of the 5,000 sq ft property, with its spacious, open plan layout and high-ceiling rooms. Panelvent external sheathing was used to complete the wall construction, with plasterboard used to create the internal EVT wall finish.

The 225mm deep roof was also insulated with Warmcel 500 and sheathed externally with Sarket roof sarking, delivering a U value of 0.14 W/m2K and completing a total EVT Technology envelope for the house.

Endorsing the healthy internal environment created, Sandy McDonald cites the absence of allergies he has suffered since moving into his new home, compared with living in his previous house.

Externally, the house was finished in traditional white render, with one elevation featuring a stone wall. This elevation also incorporates a circular turret, which houses a spiral staircase running from the downstairs dining room to the first floor living area. The external roof covering is blue/black Wetherslate.

[Images; Engineered I Beam frame and completed view]