Sustainable Beacon House by McLean Architects

The ‘Beacon’ House is house design with sustainable principles on a tight, designed by Don McLean of McLean Architects for his family. This house located Glasgow with expansive views over the City of Glasgow to the south, and the hills to the north. The site was identified for the challenge it presented for designing a contemporary home in a dense suburban landscape.

The aim was to create an entirely appropriate intervention in a conventional street but to maximize the inherent advantages of elevation and aspect. Thus, all four bedrooms, study and ancillary accommodation are provided at a mid level, with the family room opening out to the rear garden. Garage space is provided below this level. Living / dining / kitchen accommodation is provided at the upper level in an open plan ‘loft’ style space that opens out to the south deck by way of a large bi-folding screen. Further south facing glazing is provided over the stair, enhancing the extent of the view at the upper level.

The roof section, finished in stainless steel, creates an overhang to the south providing shading in summer, and facilitates passive solar gain from the low sun-path in the winter months. Primary heating is via an air source heat pump twinned with an under-floor heating system, reducing like-for-like energy use by 40%. A wood burning stove with its own fresh air source direct from outside, to prevent draughts being drawn through the house, provides supplementary heating and a focus.


Description From the architects.
“..The southerly aspect also contributes to eco friendly approach, solar gain being used to warm internal concrete mid-floors resulting in even temperatures., supported by n air source heat pump providing primary heatto underfloor heating and hot water..”