House Planning Help Podcast (general)

Amelia Lee from Undercover Architect shares some common themes that tend to crop up on owner-builder projects (particularly with people who are doing this for the first time) and explains how they can be avoided by creating a clear foundation of your values and project intentions.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH347.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:49am UTC

Andy Marlow from Envirotecture explains why Passivhaus homes are a good fit for most climates in Australia, how they approach these projects and what is needed beyond shading to keep the homes comfortable when the outdoor temperatures soar.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH346.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:53am UTC

Sarah Lewis, the Research and Policy Director at the UK Passivhaus Trust and author of PHPP Illustrated, explains what the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) is and how it is used during the design process.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH345.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:32pm UTC

Janice Gardiner, an ecologist and the client of last week’s interviewee Josh Wood at Green Trace Architect, is here to tell us what it is like to be the client on a Passivhaus project and share what she has learnt from the experience.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH344.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:24am UTC

Architect Josh Wood gives us an insight into his own self build project, where the balance between keeping costs low and creating a sustainable home have pushed him to come up with creative solutions. By undergoing most of the work themselves, Josh and his partner Amy have been able to transform their snug, back garden plot, into a comfortable and energy-efficient home. Josh explains how thinking outside of the box may be an excellent option if you are looking to get on to the property ladder with a smaller budget.

Check out the show notes for more information.

 

Direct download: HPH343.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:52am UTC

Architect Kirsty Maguire explains why reusing an existing building is always preferable to demolishing and rebuilding. However, when buildings are in terrible condition or need radical alterations to make them habitable we should be looking to reuse, recycle and reclaim as many materials as possible. Kirsty shows us that with intentional and sustainable design, you can create a new structure with a wealth of history.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH342.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:06am UTC

Jae Cotterell, founder of Passivhaus Homes, explains the importance of the choices we make when considering our construction approach. It is possible to create a high performance home with low embodied carbon that doesn't cost the earth if we understand the process, where the impacts lie and where optimisation can make a huge difference.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH341.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:14pm UTC

Andrew Jones explains how to reclaim VAT on a self build home or conversion as well as sharing some common pitfalls to avoid.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH340.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:04pm UTC

Mark Brinkley, author of the Housebuilder's Bible, explains how his book can guide you towards building a better home. He also shares some of the themes that have cropped up while he's been editing the latest edition.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH339.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:36pm UTC

Luke Smith from Build Test Solutions talks about making building performance measurement more commonplace, and how you can't manage what you don't measure.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH338.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:41pm UTC

Dr. Derek Taylor talks about advances in wind and solar power over the last 50 years.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH337.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:27am UTC

Ben Adam-Smith marks five years of living in his Passivhaus home by reflecting on his self build journey and what the house has been like to live in.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH336.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:59am UTC

Anne Thorne talks through the architectural design process of Cannock Mill Cohousing community.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH335.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:34pm UTC

Jonathan Dixon talks about incorporating home automation into a Passivhaus retrofit of a 1960s detached house, built using cross wall construction.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH334.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:31am UTC

Ludka and Brendan Powell explain the Welsh ‘One Planet Development’ scheme and how it led them to building an off-grid, straw panel Passivhaus.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH333.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:47pm UTC

Tom Gwilliam explains what Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are, how they are created and why they are unlikely to be a useful measure of how energy efficient a building is.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH332.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:11pm UTC

Alan Clarke explains the role of a mechanical services engineer on a low energy house build, in designing a heating and ventilation system that works efficiently and is affordable.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH331.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:42am UTC

Andy Moger, from Tetlow King Planning, explains the role of a planning consultant and the benefits they can bring to a project.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH330.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Beth Williams from Build Collective outlines the role of a structural engineer and explains what tasks might be undertaken on a house build.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH329.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Martin Twamley from Steico explains how to use breathable internal insulation, while avoiding the risks of condensation and mould.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH328.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:30am UTC

As someone with no previous interest or skills in DIY, Passivhaus Consultant Es Tresidder explains why he went about changing that for his own deep retrofit project.

Check out the show notes for more information:

 

 

Direct download: HPH327.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:30am UTC

Landscape Architect and Director of HLM Architects, Simon Bell, explains why he decided to upskill when it came to building his own house.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH326.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Mark Siddall explains how thermal bypass – or air movement around insulation layers – might impact a self-build or retrofit project.

Check out the show notes for more information.

 

Direct download: HPH325.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Alan Budden explains how a phased retrofit might work and what preparation is required. He also shares how he's retrofitted his own home, which includes trialling an innovative roof solution.

Check out the show notes for more information. 

Direct download: HPH324.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Influential podcaster and heating systems expert, Nathan Gambling, explains why choosing the right installer is even more important than selecting the heat pump.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH323.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:16am UTC

Homeowner Guy Hargreaves reflects on adapting and expanding his Victorian mid terrace home, retrofitting the whole building to EnerPHit standard.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH322.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:46am UTC

With price hikes being caused by the volatile energy sector, Paul Ciniglio from the National Energy Foundation explains what we can be doing to our homes to reduce our energy consumption and be better protected from rising bills.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH321.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:10am UTC

Antoine Costantini explains how Kithurst Homes has embraced modern cutting technology to increase efficiency and minimise waste.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH320.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:07am UTC

Architect, educator and builder, Tom Woolley, takes us through some of the natural construction materials we should be using to build healthier homes.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH319.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:11am UTC

Jake Fitness of Self Build Zone explains what a structural warranty is, and why you might need one on your self build or renovation project.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH318.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:38am UTC

Kit Knowles from Ecospheric explains why he is driven to keep pushing further in pursuit of sustainability in building projects.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH317.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:06pm UTC

Lloyd Alter explains how we can take personal actions to address our own carbon footprints, and why it's more important to do so than ever.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH316.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:10pm UTC

Mike Jacob explains how Kiss House is using timber component based production to deliver homes to the Passivhaus standard.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH315.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:37pm UTC

Mike Coe gives a final update on his now complete Portree Passivhaus, that has seen budgets stretched, contractors disappear for a year, and a Covid lockdown!

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH314.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:57pm UTC

Gwilym Still, of Max Fordham engineers, explains how good planning and simplicity can improve a home's performance.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH313.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:00am UTC

Jeffrey Hart, natural builder and host of the Building Sustainability Podcast, explains what he's learnt designing and crafting his own tiny house.
Direct download: HPH312.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:43pm UTC

Richard Hawkes from Hawkes Architecture reviews the Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) of the RIBA House of the Year longlist and asks why we are showcasing poorly performing architecture.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH311.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Juraj Mikurcik, Nick Grant and Mike Whitfield reflect on the award-winning Old Holloway project, which is built with EcoCocon straw panels and is a certified Passivhaus.

Check out the show notes for more information. 

Direct download: HPH310.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:15pm UTC

Architects Polly Upton and Kirk Rushby explain how they used their expertise to deliver a striking, high performance home for a very reasonable budget.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH309.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:05pm UTC

Tom Fenton from Veritherm explains how to test the thermal performance of a home, what this data can reveal and how it can then be used.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH308.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:56am UTC

Mike Webb explains why he chose to build to high ecological standards even though he could've made more money by just complying with building regulations.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH307.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:46pm UTC

Nigel Dutt tells the self build story behind Devon Passivhaus, a Paragraph 55 build.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH306.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:09pm UTC

Mick Woolley explains how the use of timber was a key element of his award-winning Passivhaus bungalow.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH305.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:44am UTC

Bruce Bell, founder of Facit Homes, explains why digital manufacturing has a lot to offer in the future of house-building.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH304.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:15am UTC

David Arrenberg explains why he wanted to project manage his self build, what the work entailed and how much of his time it took.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH303.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Mhairi Grant and Martin McCrae share their self build journey. Their contemporary home seems to have it all, from striking design and great ecological credentials to high quality finish and value for money... but Martin and Mhairi had to work hard for it!

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH302.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:01pm UTC

Hattie Hartman, Sustainability Editor at the Architects' Journal, shares insights from her new book Energy, People, Buildings.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH301.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

As a way of celebrating our 300th episode we're doing something a little different.

Ben Adam-Smith reflects on the homes he's lived in and what he's learnt from living in them.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH300.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:50pm UTC

Ben Adam-Smith shares his own experience of living with a mechanical ventilation system. While he's clocked up a few error messages on the unit and had more problems than most, he explains why he wouldn't want to go back to natural ventilation.

Check out the show notes for more information: 

Direct download: HPH299.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:37pm UTC

Andrew Reardon from ProAktive explains the insurance options that are available to anyone carrying out a self build or renovation.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH298.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:26pm UTC

Guy Hargreaves explains why he wanted to renovate his Victorian terraced house to Passivhaus standard and how this is going to be achieved.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH297.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

John Hernon from Thames Water explains the process of installing a new connection to a water main. He also outlines the role of water services company that delivers clean water and takes away waste water.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH296.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Neil Clarke from UK Power Networks explains how to get mains electricity to a new build home.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH295.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Adrian Reith explains why the joined up design, engineering and quality of a Baufritz home appealed to him.

Check out the show notes for more information.

 

Direct download: HPH294.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:03pm UTC

Zack Semke explains why he's passionate about facilitating the communication and flow of information around Passive House.

Check out the show notes for more information. 

Direct download: HPH293.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:47am UTC

Mark McCall and Scott McMurray explain what fully integrated home automation is all about.

Check out the show notes for more information: 

Direct download: HPH292.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:54pm UTC

Werner Brouwer explains why being able to build a house without restrictions in Oosterwold is also about working together to build a community.

Check out the show notes for more information. 

Direct download: HPH291.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Self-building an annexe in an area of coastal erosion meant a low-cost but high-performance build was a priority for architect Colin Rice.

Check out the show notes for more information. 

Direct download: HPH290.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Author Roger Hunt explains why period properties need treating differently when it comes to achieving successful retrofit projects.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH289.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Architect Russel Hayden explains how he sought to renovate a derelict 1960s house to EnerPHit standards.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH288.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Russell Smith of Parity Projects explains why a whole house plan is the best way forward for tackling a renovation.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH287.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Martin Brown from Fairsnape explains how the Living Building Challenge is a holistic standard that benefits health and the environment.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH286.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Dr Judith Thornton of Aberystwyth University explores how plant-based materials are being used in the building industry, and why they are so important for our future.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH285.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Calum Taylor and Opinder Liddar talk through the design and construction of the 'Self Build Education House' at Graven Hill.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH284.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:02pm UTC

Tim Martel explains how to model the embodied carbon of your build using PHribbon, a tool that plugs in to PHPP (Passive House Planning Package).

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH283.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:20pm UTC

Nick Grant shares his thoughts on the lessons learned from 30 years of the AECB (Association of Environment Conscious Building).

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH282.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:23am UTC

Tully Gallagher of Beartooth Passive House, explains what it was like to take a leap of faith in swapping a desk job with building a 'forever home' for his family.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH281.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Chief Executive of the Passivhaus Trust, Jon Bootland, explains the processes and benefits of building your house to the Passivhaus Standard.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH280.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Lee Fordham from Architype simplifies some of the terminology you might come across if you're thinking about doing a sustainable self build.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH279.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Having worked on his own hands-on group self build project, and site managed others, Geoff Stow shares his experience on where to start when it comes to self build.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH278.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Professor Fionn Stevenson explains why building performance monitoring and post-occupancy evaluation should be mandatory on new homes.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH277.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Tracey and Roman Iwanczuk explain how they managed to build a Passivhaus on a sloping site in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH276.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

With 14 projects under his belt, author and serial self builder David Snell explains how you can stop costs from running away from you.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH275.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Award-winning Cork House was the world's first to use a solid cork construction system. Matthew Barnett Howland explains the concept and how he managed to build it himself.

Check out the show notes for more information: 

Direct download: HPH274.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Architect Paloma Gormley of Practice Architecture explains how versatile hemp can be as a building material, and how plastic use can be reduced on site.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH273.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am UTC

Skipper and oceans advocate Emily Penn explains the damage that plastic pollution is having on our oceans, and how we can find solutions.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH272.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:18am UTC

Ben Adam-Smith shares some of the questions that got asked about the Passivhaus standard during a question and answer session at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre.

Check out the show notes for more information. 

Direct download: HPH271.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:52am UTC

Olga Turner Baker describes the WELL Building Standard and explains how the principles can be applied to improve health and well-being on individual projects.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH270.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:14am UTC

Chris Parsons returns to Ben Adam-Smith's self build home after a year to look for defects. He explains what snagging is, how the list is compiled and how the rectification process works.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH269.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:36pm UTC

Self-builder and renovator Jason Orme reflects on the main challenges you face if you want to tackle a house build in the UK.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH268.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:55pm UTC

Kevin McCloud from Grand Designs shares practical advice on how to approach an ecological build, and comments on how architecture needs to change to address the climate emergency.

Check out the show notes for more information: 

Direct download: HPH267.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:22am UTC

Client Ajay Boardman and her builder/carpenter Nigel Bowley share their experience of working together on her self build project. In addition to project managing Ajay is labouring for Nigel. We look at why this relationship has worked well and consider how much money she is saving.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH266.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:56am UTC

Jonathan Kearns of Kearns Mancini Architects, describes how he tackled a high performance retrofit of a century-old building.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH265.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:19am UTC

Mark Siddall from LEAP explains his framework the 'Forever Home Lifestyle' and how he uses it with his clients.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH264.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:27pm UTC

Harry Paticas of Arboreal Architecture explains why care and hard work have been so important to the retrofit of his 1978 mid-terrace townhouse.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH263.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:02am UTC

Dr Mike Page explains how The Cube micro home project developed and why land availability turned out to be a major issue for those that liked the idea of tiny house living.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH262.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:23pm UTC

Duncan Baker-Brown from BBM Sustainable Design explains how we can reduce waste on our projects, given a little more time and with a different approach on site.

With the construction industry being such a big contributor of annual waste, he also shares strategies for how we could transform things if we treat buildings as material banks, which are built with deconstruction in mind.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH261.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:25am UTC

Managing Director of Potton Homes, Mark Stevenson, looks at how self build, custom build and speculative development differ.

Check out the show notes for more information: 

Direct download: HPH260.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:51am UTC

Mike Coe has a progress report from Portree Passivhaus, which is now almost watertight. We pick up the story as the groundworks begin and look at some of the challenges as the superstructure has gone up.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH259.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:25am UTC

Neil Sutherland explains how using a design, manufacture and delivery company can give you a better quality of construction.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH258.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:07pm UTC

Ben Adam-Smith runs through the biggest problems you could face on your self build journey. He also looks at what can be done in those situations.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH257.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:09pm UTC

Tom Heywood from Green Building Store explains why we need mechanical ventilation with heat recovery in high performance homes and why it needs to be well designed.

Check out the show notes for more information. 

Direct download: HPH256.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:29pm UTC

Chris Herring, Director at Green Building Store, explains why careful consideration should be given when specifying windows.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH255.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:59am UTC

Jeremy Lent, author and integrator, looks at how and why we should transform the fundamental basis of our civilisation.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH254.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:33am UTC

Property developer and podcaster, Rob Bence, advises on what's needed for undertaking a successful building development project.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH253.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:26pm UTC

Chris Magwood, a director at the Endeavour Centre in Canada, explains the importance of embodied carbon and how building with plant-based materials could transform our new homes into carbon sinks.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH252.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:24am UTC

Charlie Luxton shares lessons he's learnt from visiting projects on Building The Dream, running an architectural practice and completing his own self build.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH251.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:18pm UTC

Ben Adam-Smith picks out ten of his favourite new build homes. These are all homes he has visited and which have impressed him in different ways.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH250.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:10pm UTC

Danny Luhde-Thompson explains why he chose to demolish the bungalow he was renovating, to build a contemporary Passivhaus.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH249.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:52pm UTC

Resident of Marmalade Lane cohousing, Jan Chadwick, explains why living in a multi-generational community is so important to her.

Check out the show notes for more information.

Direct download: HPH248.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:02pm UTC