Wienerberger has started construction on an e4 brick house at the BRE’s (Building Research Establishment) Innovation Park in Watford.
The project will be built to the new housing standard that the BRE has launched at this year’s Ecobuild. The new standard aims to allow developers to distinguish themselves within the marketplace by recognising when their products go beyond minimum performance and provide increased choice for the consumer.
Wienerberger says the e4 brick house will be the first house in the world built to this new standard, which will be launched in May 2015 to rate the quality, efficiency and performance of new homes.
The concept was developed to address the need for affordable, sustainable housing in the UK. Designed in conjunction with global engineering and design consultancy, ARUP, the e4 brick house model focuses on the four pillars of Wienerberger’s global e4 concept – energy, economy, environment and emotion.
The concept utilises a fabric first approach using a clay building envelope, and aims to provide a financially affordable and accessible home that also delivers optimum build performance. The house is designed to minimise environmental impact and is therefore responsibly sourced and meets level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes as standard.
The house being built at the BRE Innovation Park is the three bedroom detached design, although the concept can be used for a wide range of sizes and typologies.
Harald Schwarzmayr, managing director at Wienerberger, said:
“We are delighted to be building an e4 brick house at the BRE’s Innovation Park. The BRE has been very supportive of the concept. Having an e4 brick house that is the first in the world built to BRE’s new housing standard ensures that Wienerberger and the e4 concept remain at the forefront of innovation and industry leadership.”
Miles Watkins, business development director at the BRE, said:
“We are very pleased the e4 brick house is coming to the Innovation Park and to have it pilot our new homes standard. In the UK we have a critical need for quality, affordable, sustainable homes that can be delivered with speed. We are currently managing to deliver 125,000 housing units against the estimated 250,000 required – homes like the e4 can help us close the gap.”
