First floor flat, 43 Ditchling Rise
Brighton BN1 4QN
Abby and Kate have renovated one end of this split level flat in a Victorian house into a healthy home. The approach has included insulating the floor, walls and roof using natural, recycled or reused building materials wherever possible.
Natural materials allow moisture to pass through the building fabric and reduce 'off-gassing' from synthetic materials. This includes sheep's wool and newspaper insulation, bamboo work surfaces, marmoleum flooring, clay-board ceiling and partition wall boards, lime plaster, natural paints, wood-fibre insulation and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) sustainable birch ply.
Windows have been replaced with high performance glazing, with the triple glazing at the back significantly reducing noise from the road. There are also various water conservation measures in place, including a dual flush toilet, aerated showerhead and water meter to measure savings, with water bills being around a quarter of what they would be if paid by standing charge.
Video
Abby talks about the features added in the renovation of this flat (3.5 minutes)