Described as an “architect’s digital dream”, one of Solinear’s prestige solar shading projects, Orchard View (also referred to as Orchard House), has been featured in episode 4 of the latest series of Channel 4’s ‘Britain’s Most Expensive Houses’. The stunning £10 million property, is a bold statement in modern architecture – and an example of how thoughtful design can meet the challenges of a changing climate.
Contemporary aesthetics meets sustainable technology
Engineered by award-winning Swedish architectural practice, Ström Architects, the brief was to design a house that the occupants could relax in and escape their busy lives. The clients were keen to enjoy the rural location while also being an easy commute to and from central London. The result was Orchard View – the striking and spacious modern home nestled on generous 3.8-acre plot in the heart of Radlett, Hertfordshire occupying a former brownfield site that previously functioned as a nursery. Featuring an H-shaped plan, the structure spans nearly 8,000 ft², blending minimalist cubic forms, airy double height spaces, private and public areas carefully designed around one another and extensive full-height glazing inviting uninterrupted views of the beautifully landscaped gardens and courtyard spaces. With cutting-edge, intelligent technologies and modern features including Crestron home automation, underfloor heating, bespoke SieMatic kitchen, efficient Lutron lighting and fully automated blinds/curtains, the design prioritises both luxury and sustainability.
Solinear’s role at Orchard View
Ström Architects created a clear, minimalist modern vision where energy efficiency, along with aesthetic appeal and quality living, was an important factor when considering design for the exterior as well as the interior. Solinear would be required to provide a solar shading system that not only offered high-performance protection but also aligned with the clean architectural lines and brilliant white rendered external envelope of the suspended upper level of the house. Supporting a relaxing environment, the building was designed to allow as much natural light as possible to enter the rooms and maintain a strong connection with the extensive green spaces that surround the house on all sides.
Whilst a generous expanse of glass frames the spectacular views of surrounding grounds, the full-height glazing can also act as a greenhouse, allowing summer heat to pass through and trap it within. During colder months heat can escape through glazed areas. Solinear’s award-winning Solex Halo solar shading range offered the perfect resolution. The bespoke solar shading system, consisting of a simple vertical arrangement of rectangular hollow section fins finished with RAL 9016 (Traffic White) 30% gloss, enhances both the performance and the aesthetics of Orchard View, complementing the luxurious exterior’s sleek white rendering and simple architectural lines of this high-tech residence. The fins reduce the need for artificial cooling during warmer months whilst mitigating heat loss during colder months. They also provide a degree of screening and privacy and protections against damage to the glazing from external forces without compromising the view from within the building.
What next for Orchard View?
Estate Agent’s Fine and Country are managing the sale of Orchard View which has received interest from amongst others, a well-known face from the 1980s and a big name in Hollywood.
Following a very positive viewing by ‘80s celebrity, Jilly Johnson – already a Radlett resident who has been “fascinated” by the property for some time – she’s expressed interest after being “thoroughly seduced” by it and describes Orchard View as her “dream house”. Although retired, she insists that “I’m not about to sit back in my rocking chair – I’m ready to rock and roll” and this house could be her stage.
As mentioned in ‘Britain’s Most Expensive Houses’, “Some houses just sell themselves, and after a viewing like that, it seems that Orchard View might be one of them”.
Meanwhile, Lexie, a location scout who has been tasked with finding locations for films including ‘Top Boy’, ‘The Gentleman’, ‘Back to Black’ and ‘Gangs of London’ has inspected Orchard View as a potential venue for fashion shoots and a film location for a client who is currently in Hollywood. According to Lexie, the film has “a really good cast…” including “some A-listers”. She was greatly impressed with the striking contemporary cubic forms, modern spacious rooms and generously proportioned landscaped gardens offering plenty of scope for film crews to easily manoeuvre in and around the building. Orchard View could command anywhere between £12,000 and £15,000 per day as the film location. Perhaps Solinear’s solar shading will have a starring role in a major blockbuster!
Conclusion
Whilst there haven’t been any concrete developments in the future of Orchard View, what we know for certain, is that by integrating intelligent, high-performance solar shading, Solinear’s thoughtful design not only enhances visual appeal but also reduces reliance on costly mechanical cooling systems therefor contributing to energy-efficiency goals and actively helping to mitigate the real-world impacts of climate change.
This means that, along with other energy-efficiency measures, buildings like Orchard View set the standard for future-proof residential design as the UK and countries around the world prepare for hotter, drier summers. When temperatures are on the rise, the new occupants will undoubtedly appreciate a more comfortable internal space promoting calm and relaxation. Whether it’s a luxury development or a public facility, Solinear’s solutions are engineered to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s climate – today.
