We supplied the lighting to help Sarah Nelson realise her dream of a net zero carbon home which features on Channel 4’s Grand Designs TV show.
As an artist, two things were vital for her new home and studio, a net zero carbon building and its visual appeal that is sympathetic to its rural surroundings.
Carbon Zero Construction
The timber frame building uses Hempcrete for insulation. This bio-based product is carbon negative because it uses material from the hemp plant which absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The external face is clad with reclaimed local stone from a previous building found on site and Sarah chose to leave the Hempcrete exposed on the internal walls.
Says Sarah, “Not only is Hempcrete an excellent insulating material with excellent soundproofing but it has a very attractive grey and beige textured finish.”
The Lighting Installation
Lighting is very important for Sarah who lives and works from the house and attached studio.
In the living areas she specified our 1901 spotlights, which she can rotate and tilt to direct light where she wants it. The fittings have a contemporary black cylindrical design and produce a warm light of 2700K for a relaxing atmosphere.
To create an intimate but modern feel around the eating area, we also supplied our Linear Prism fitting in black which is suspended above the table. With colour switchable options to choose what light source she wanted, Sarah opted for a warm light of 3000K.
For the gallery hall Sarah chose our OKTO 4 architectural lights. They have a similar sleek black cylindrical design as the 1901 spotlights and provide great ambient lighting for large areas with their 85o beam angle.
Commenting on the installation Sarah explains: “I wanted energy efficient LED lighting with a modern contemporary design. The black, sleek design of all the fittings really work as a visual statement, especially when set against the textured grey Hempcrete walls.”
Studio lighting
In the studio where she works, Sarah chose industrial looking lights with our Caiman Versa anticorrosive fitting. The two fittings are suspended from the steel ridge beams, and their steel bodies work well set against the bare hempcrete walls and this exposed metal girder. With plenty of glazing facing north, the studio has an abundance of natural diffuse light for her work, which the light fittings supplement as it gets dark with a cool white light of 5700K that is similar to natural light.
Sustainable Specifications
Modern LED fittings not only offer adaptable lighting solutions but are extremely energy efficient, something that is vital to Sarah who wanted a sustainable solution.
The building has also got an air source heat pump and solar panels to provide power for the lighting and sockets, and the heating and hot water. In addition, the ceiling is clad in plywood, and Sarah sourced the kitchen units from freecycle and used plywood offcuts for the kitchen unit doors.
Commenting on her new home and studio she says: “I have shown that you can build a sustainable zero carbon building that is very individual and good looking. My emphasis has been on energy saving solutions, but that does not mean that you must sacrifice style.
“As an artist light is very important to me and Collingwood’s fittings allow me to achieve what I believe in and create and showcase a space that is visually stunning.”
