Common Home is a systematised approach to delivering affordable housing. It was developed by leading housing architects RCKa to minimise construction wastage, cost and unnecessary complexity.
The system utilises modern methods of construction and can be fully modular or part modular to suit local supply chains and site conditions. It utilises the full potential of BIM to reduce delivery programmes and reduce financial exposure pre-planning.
Component parts of developments are consistent and configured to provide multiple options while taking advantage of economies of scale.
A typical Common Home product can be designed and configured in a few weeks at a fraction of typical consultant fees.
Within the Common Home family there are a number of models to suit different contexts and markets:
- Common House – A housing solution from 2 to 3 storeys for individual plots and garage sites.
- Common Villa – A central core solution for medium sized sites. Buildings from 3 to 6 storeys.
- Common Gallery – A gallery access system for larger sites. Buildings from 3 storeys upwards.
The Common Home model has been designed specifically for constrained and often difficult to access sites.
Sustainability
The Common Home model maximises sustainable features and is designed to be future-proofed against ever changing national policy and regulations.
Heat recovery systems are used instead of gas central heating, and solar panels, thermal water heating, efficient appliances for both power and water efficiency are also incorporated. The building will be highly insulated and built to Passivhaus equivalent air tightness.
Construction
The Common Home model has been designed specifically for constrained and often difficult to access sites.
This ‘Modern Method of Construction’ (MMC) employs Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) to deliver a lightweight building which is fabricated elsewhere and quickly assembled on site with lighter foundations and a shorter build programme. The highly insulated envelope helps achieve the sustainability levels required to exceed building regulations requirements.