Hunsett Mill

Architect: studio ACME led by Friedrich Ludewig
Location: Norfolk, England
Year of completion: 2008
Area: 215 m2
Awards: RIBA Manser Medal 2010

The reconstruction and extension of Hunsett Mill is a very specific response to a very specific space: a romantic and enchanting rural scenery. The new building was meant to represent the shadow of the original, making it invisible from certain viewpoints. It is an example of sensitive and intelligent use of the wonderful location and offers a clear and successful answer to a complex question.

The new structure responds to the original irregular array of outbuildings but is filled with a new function – recreational accommodation for several families. The extension is clad in black, charred wood, giving it the appearance of a shadow, and its windows aligned with the walls further enhance the feeling of immateriality. The shapes of the roofs form a series of asymmetrical but rhythmically connected gables. The overall impression is enchanting – it seems more like a work of art than an example of a rural residential house.

The surface of the new building, made from charred Japanese oak, is divided by rhythmically placed frameless windows that echo traditional materials and colors in a completely original way. Together with strategically placed VELUX roof windows of various sizes, they illuminate selected spots in the interior, creating an unmistakable atmosphere through light. The thoughtful placement of glazed areas in both the façade and roof not only has a very distinctive visual effect but also mediates visual contact with the surrounding unique nature.

The entire structure is thoughtfully designed down to the smallest detail and is excellently crafted. A number of prefabricated parts were also used in its construction. For its successful reconstruction, the project received the prestigious RIBA Manser Medal 2010.

Hunsett Mill demonstrates that good architecture does not require high investments, and if the client is sufficiently bold and ambitious, it can be realized even in very restrictive situations – the building authority in Norfolk is certainly not known for its inclination to take risks. The resulting project achieved a balance between value and quality.

More information about the project at www.velux.cz/architekti-a-projektanti

Annual CO2 emissions: 22.26 kg CO2/m2 per year, about 4.8 tons of CO2 per year (this value corresponds to the quality of construction materials used in the extension and the poor materials of the uninsulated old building, which could only be improved to a certain level).
The house originally had no windows from the living spaces facing the river and the windmill. Most of the new windows face specific parts of the mill and the surrounding landscape.