Innovative design sees futuristic home take shape below ground

State-of-the-art design and building techniques have enabled a new “underground” home in Cheshire to satisfy stringent planning regulations while creating the 15,000 square feet of living space required by its prospective owner.

The architectural challenge was met by Liverpool-based design and construction specialist RJ Lewis Projects Ltd after local planners decreed that the visible part of the hillside home should mirror the footprint of an old cottage formerly occupying the site.

The result has been the creation of a futuristic, four-storey property where 85% of the development – including the vast majority of living space, a luxurious swimming pool and parking for multiple vehicles – is carved into rock.

The completed home, whose location at stunning Helsby Hill falls within Green Belt as well as an Area of Special County Value, is due to be handed to its new owner early in the New Year.

RJ Lewis Projects’ Director Simon Lewis explained: “The plot’s owner had been looking to create a large family home that caused minimal environmental impact, both on the surrounding countryside and in its day-to-day running. He called on RJ Lewis after traditional architects had been unable to offer the space and features he required while protecting the area and satisfying planning regulations. This needed anything but an off-the-shelf solution.”

Simon added: “Having previously worked on everything from offices and laboratories to retail centres and leisure complexes, RJ Lewis Projects is extremely experienced in marrying innovative design with the exacting requirements of planners.

“However, at Helsby Hill we’ve needed to create completely new design features while also negotiating a planning minefield. We’ve worked extremely closely with the local authority to design and create a 15,800-square-foot home that offers the expansive, low-energy living space required while having minimal impact on the surrounding countryside. Local councillors, planners and neighbours have all been involved in the consultation process.”

Workers from RJ Lewis Projects first began clearing the site on Hill Road North in February 2009. The existing home – Hillside Cottage – was demolished before thousands of tonnes of rock were removed from the sandstone hillside during a complex three-month process.

To protect the area, the construction team avoided traditional techniques such as blast charges. Instead, they cut into the hillside using “breakers” – huge rock-cutting wheels.

The main structure of the new building is a steel frame, with timber-framed and panelled walls then being used to create four levels of stunning living space, two of which are below ground. Features include a swimming pool and family space on the lower-ground floor and a large lounge area and open-plan kitchen in the heart of the house on the ground level, with two additional floors of en-suite bedrooms.

The highly innovative features introduced by the RJ Lewis team include an internal courtyard which allows light into the ground floor without being visible from the surrounding area. There are also anti-glare windows, a vertical “light tower” to carry natural daylight below ground, a specially designed energy-free ventilation system and a cutting-edge security system. Full home automation ensures that energy consumption is controlled whilst delivering a truly 21st-century, contemporary living experience.

The house is served by its own water borehole, uses bio-fuel energy and features its own waste-water treatment plant. Its environmental impact has also been reduced by using sustainable building materials and, by being below ground, incorporating a lawned roof. The building is enveloped underground within an epic quarry, where the building sits truly independent of the original excavation. A cave surrounds the whole property underground and provides a subterranean service access to every room, as well as outstanding insulation.

An existing orchard forms a backdrop to the site while established trees and hedges are being retained and developed to provide additional screening.

Simon Lewis explained: “Over the 30 years RJ Lewis has been in business we’ve tackled many unusual assignments but the project on Helsby Hill has been unique. The design and construction work has been nicknamed Project Ijsberg because most of the house is hidden below the surface.

“The design has enabled us to base the visible area of the new building on the dimensions of the old cottage it replaced. The elements of the new home above ground are also broken up into smaller sections, again to reduce the overall impact.”

About RJ Lewis Projects Ltd:

RJ Lewis Projects is an expert in managing large, innovative design and construction projects for commerce, industry, retail and leisure. Its services extend across space planning, workplace design, construction & engineering services and project management.

As part of the RJ Lewis Group, the Liverpool-based company has more than 30 years’ experience of handling large-scale challenges including building projects, office and workplace refurbishments and office moves. It can produce stylish hotel interiors, modern ergonomic office environments, shops, restaurants, laboratories, leisure centres and purpose-built business facilities.

The company’s clients have included Liverpool John Lennon Airport, ICI C&P Ltd, Shell UK Ltd, Ineos, United Utilities, Bank of America, SOG Ltd, Deutsche Bank and QVC.

29 October 2009