Marsh Haus – Exterior Blinds for Passivhaus Home

A retired doctor has described how he and his wife designed their dream energy-saving home of the future in a mediaeval village.

Anthony Nowlan, 68, had for 30 years lived with his wife and family in a ‘big old pile of stone’ on a picturesque high street on the edge of the Cotswolds.

The couple demolished a dilapidated 1950s house nearby and teamed up with an architect and a building firm to create their stunning three-bed home in Marshfield, near Bath.

What did the Nowlans want for their new home?

Energy usage, accessibility and comfort were key as they embarked on their new build project. The couple’s new house has achieved Passivhaus Standard thanks to its mechanical ventilation, airtight building fabric and high levels of insulation. This guarantees warm winters but they were concerned not to risk overheating on sunny summer days.

The house is designed so that some windows are shaded by a verandah in the summer but planning limitations made that impossible for all the windows. On the hunt for a resolution to the problem, they approached UK-based blinds and shading specialist, Kensington Blinds.

Mr Nowlan said: “It's crucial to avoid the heat getting into the house in the first place. We wanted to get the best thermal blocking possible because we didn’t want boiling hot bedrooms and upstairs during the summer. And of course we were eager to avoid air conditioning as this uses a lot of energy."

How Kensington Blinds got involved

Kensington Blinds installed four external blinds on the first floor to regulate sunlight and heat entering the interior space.

The blinds, made with an aluminium frame finished to match the house and tough fibreglass fabrics, intercept and reflect sunlight before it reaches the windows, blocking solar heat and reducing glare.

The couple were also worried about being plunged into complete darkness in the bedrooms and other upstairs rooms when the blinds were down during the day.

However, the blinds still allow light to enter the room while occupants can also see outside, and they were delighted with the result.

What Benefits did the Exterior Blinds Offer?

Mr Nowlan said: “When the blinds are lowered the change is instant and transformative.

You can really feel the difference in heat when the exterior blinds are down.

If you put up the blind the window board turns boiling hot, but when it's down - even during 30°C weather outside - the temperature is still a really comfortable level indoors.

It also creates a really interesting and lovely visual effect - like a textured painting on a canvas, when you’re looking out of the room onto the fields.”

Despite facing numerous challenges throughout the process, including a lockdown that began just two weeks before acquiring the site, they persevered.

Towards the end of the house build, four exterior blinds were installed on the first-floor bedrooms and ensuite in less than a day. All their efforts paid off when they were finally able to move into their new home earlier this year.

Was Installing Exterior Blinds Worthwhile?

Mr Nowlan said the blinds, which can work automatically when the sun hits and also be controlled remotely, offer privacy as well as long-term financial benefits for other homeowners.

He added: “Solar shading is just a marginal cost (compared to the total cost of the build) and it's worth the effort of making provision for it at the initial stage of a new home.

Global warming means it’s going to get hotter in this country so it’s important to think about the fabric of the building.

Without blinds in the summer, it could be like having a 3kW heater in your house, but our home is now extraordinarily comfortable.”

Have a look at the photos, or to find out more about our range of exterior blinds, get in touch today.