Gloucestershire
Passivhaus
A beautifully sustainable and elegantly simple solution to this client's needs for their new build Passivhaus near Stroud
The owners of this new build home near Stroud in Gloucestershire reached out to us with a clear mission: craft a kitchen that maintained the openness of their expansive, light-filled living areas.
Built to stringent Passivhaus principles, the project demanded materials that were not only sustainable but low VOC and environmentally accredited.
Our approach started with the decision to work with Richlite, an eco-conscious material made from recycled paper, for the side panels, and cabinet and drawer fronts.
For the timber accents, we chose English ash, echoing the wood tones found throughout the rest of the house for a cohesive flow.
Slimline Neolith worktops and upstands, made of 90% recycled materials using 100% renewable energy, with GreenGuard Gold certification, added to the sustainable credentials and sleek aesthetic.
Blissfully minimal
Our clients were in the process of building a beautiful new home in rolling countryside near to Stroud according to Passivhaus principles and wanted to have a kitchen built locally using sustainable materials.
Inside, the open-plan layout combined a sitting room, library, dining space, and adjacent utility and storage rooms. Windows graced every wall, saturating the space with natural light.
The challenge? Designing a kitchen that honoured this openness without disrupting the sightlines or compromising the flood of daylight. Our solution was simple and minimal in design: a multi-functional central island flanked by a sleek run of base cabinets and drawers. Every element was crafted to work with, not against, the spacious feel of the room.
Monochrome detail
The kitchen furniture was built in our workshops by Nigel and the team who added English ash detailing to the visible part of the frames above the drawer and door fronts.
Richlite, in a near black, was selected for the end panels, and drawer and door fronts. Composed of FSC-certified, resin-infused paper layers, Richlite is a durable, stable material accredited by many sustainable associations.
By choosing a handleless design for the kitchen, the colourful layers within the Richlite were revealed on all angled edges, adding quiet visual interest.
Island living
The Neolith worktops and upstands were chosen for their eco-credentials and their clean, linear beauty. The low VOC composition and renewable-energy manufacturing meant this material fit perfectly within the strict environmental ethos of the project.
Every feature was considered: deep, wide drawers running along both sides of the kitchen island offered versatile and easy-access storage solutions. The black glass Elica induction cooktop with built-in extraction ventilation was seamlessly integrated into the island worksurface, turning it into a hub for cooking and social gathering. Two understated timber stools provided a casual place to sit.
Beneath the high-set window, a line of base cabinets and a centrally located undermounted sink maintained the low profile of the room. In the corners, a pair of mounted ovens were boxed in discreetly, adding functionality without dominating the visual field. The fridge-freezer unit stood to one side, quiet in its presence, completing the flow.
The clean lines and minimalist design of this kitchen create an ambiance of uncluttered elegance. Every detail, from the layered edges of the Richlite to the pale English ash detailing, tells the story of a home that values local craftsmanship, sustainability and enduring style.
An excelllent reflection of the owners who embody thoughtful living, where each element plays its part in a harmonious whole.
