Henry and Christine were ready to create a home that would fit perfectly into an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Hertfordshire.

We found out about their past homes, and how they saw their life in their new Facit. They wanted somewhere that was high-tech and high-performance, yet effortless to use.

Merging media into life

Technology plays a big part in the family’s life, and we were keen to make plenty of space for it. The media room in Henry and Christine’s new Facit is open to the kitchen and dining area, so it’s easy for them to surf, print, Skype and download music.

Future-proofing was important to them too. So we installed a state-of-the-art CAT7 data network and a bespoke B&O entertainment system. There’s even a soundproof music room for the future rockstars in their family: their two teenage sons.

Controlling light and heat

Henry and Christine can now control the automated windows and lighting in their Facit from a simple switch on the wall and manual controls, rather than a complex central controller. Their heat recovery system retains warmth while keeping the air fresh and the humidity balanced.

Henry and Christine can control their under-floor heating system from their iPads, and the system switches itself off on sunny or overcast winter days, allowing the super-insulated Facit Chassis™ to capture the sun’s warmth for free.

The rough with the smooth

Christine has a great eye for materials and textures. You can see her influence throughout the couple’s new Facit, from the raw concrete wall finishes and rough sawn timber floorboards to the textured steel cladding on the outside. A central interior connecting space, with flowing curved walls, softens the raw materials’ hard edges.

We designed and digitally manufactured a set of custom-made elements, like the laser-cut steel staircase and integrated kitchen. Throughout the house there is a sense of flow, created by a coherent palette of materials and colours, and repeated joinery details.