Case study detail
Copyright - Andrew Lee
A'Chrannag Tower
Contributed by:
Jo Colwell
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A'Chrannag Tower is one of Europe’s most energy efficient social housing projects built to date. It manages to reduce the heat requirements to 1KW, thus eliminating the need for a dedicated heating system for each flat.
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Overview
The seven-storey round tower called A'Chrannag - or the Crow's nest - was commissioned by the housing association Fyne Homes.
The tower was completed in June 2004 with a mix of flats ranging from 1 bedroom through to 3 bedroom. There is a lift which gives access to all floors and secure door entry system. ll windows are triple glazed and the insulation is to a very high specification which should reduce the need for the total control heating.
The name A’Chrannag was selected through a formal competition among pupils at Rothesay Academy. It is Gaelic for ‘Crow’s Nest’, appropriate as the building peers over the tree tops where crows actually nest, and it has views across Rothesay Bay and to Arran.
The brief was to build around 14 two and three bedroom homes for rent to meet local needs for affordable housing. The client, Fyne Homes, specified that the dwellings should be both sustainable and innovative, and that the local community should be encouraged to participate in the planning process. The majority of respondents liked the tower style, as it minimised the amount of land used and took advantage of the magnificent views.
The £1.4 million tower, funded by Communities Scotland was completed in May 2004. Each floor is split into two flats, with roof terraces for the top floor flats. The staircase and lift are located to the rear, freeing up the front to provide each living room with a balcony and a splendid view. An early post-occupancy study from the occupants indicates that the flats are bright, energy efficient and residents making good use of their balconies.
The tower is one of Europe’s most energy efficient social housing projects built to date. It manages to reduce the heat requirements to 1KW, thus eliminating the need for a dedicated heating system for each flat. The bedrooms do not require heating at all, and the CO2 emission is reduced by 70%. Maximum energy efficiency was achieved by using 600mm rendered thick thermal block work walls with 300mm insulation, triple glazing with airtight construction, and a heat recovery ventilation system. The ‘U’ value of the external walls are reduced to 0.1W/m2K.
A'Chrannag won a Royal Institute of Brittish Architects (RIBA) award in June 2005 and also features in the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) 10/10 - Buildings that Made A Difference, RIAS Festival Exhibition for August 2005.
Key features
energy
land use
materials
regeneration
Key data
Project Team: ARCHITECT: Gokay Deveci
Cost: £1.4 million
Local Authority: CONTRACTOR: Stewart and Shields
Client: Fyne Homes
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