Anderwood Homes

Location: Lymington

Brick Manufacturer: wienerberger Limited

Brick Name: Eco-brick

Architect: MBA Architecture Ltd

Brickwork Contractor: Anderwood Homes Ltd

Located on the edge of the New Forest, this carefully considered development of three high-quality bungalows by Anderwood Homes demonstrates how traditional architectural principles can be successfully reinterpreted for a low-carbon future. Designed by MBA Architecture Ltd, the scheme balances vernacular sensitivity with forward-thinking specification, using a refined material palette and innovative walling solutions—most notably the wienerberger UK Eco-brick—to deliver a cohesive, sustainable residential environment.

From an architectural perspective, the brief was clear: to create homes rooted in traditional construction methods while achieving exemplary energy performance and long-term durability. The resulting design employs familiar domestic forms, including simple pitched roofs and robust masonry façades, ensuring the development sits comfortably within its semi-rural Hampshire context. However, beneath this traditional aesthetic lies a carefully engineered building envelope that significantly enhances thermal efficiency and environmental performance.

Central to this success is the specification of the Eco-brick. Its reduced thickness compared to standard facing bricks offered a critical architectural advantage: the ability to increase cavity insulation without altering the overall wall build-up or compromising the external appearance. This enabled the design team to retain the proportions, depth, and articulation associated with traditional masonry construction, while delivering a significant uplift in thermal performance.

The Eco-brick system also contributed to a reduction in embodied carbon—up to 31% less per square metre of brickwork—aligning with the project’s sustainability ambitions from both a regulatory and ethical standpoint. For the architect, this reduction was achieved without sacrificing material authenticity or visual quality. The finished façades maintain the weight, texture, and permanence expected of brick-built homes, reinforcing a sense of longevity and craftsmanship.

Importantly, the slimmer profile of the Eco-brick allowed for the retention of a residual cavity. This is a critical detail in ensuring moisture control and long-term durability, supporting best-practice construction principles while enabling enhanced insulation strategies. The result is a building envelope that performs robustly in both thermal and environmental terms—contributing directly to the project’s EPC A rating.

The Eco-brick formed part of a holistic approach to envelope design, working in concert with other integrated systems including Sandtoft 20/20 roof tiles, an in-roof solar array, dry ridge detailing, and FloPlast rainwater goods. Architecturally, this coordinated specification ensured consistency in detailing and material quality, while technically delivering reduced operational energy demand and improved occupant comfort.

The in-roof solar installation, discreetly integrated into the roofscape, further exemplifies the project’s careful balance between performance and aesthetics. By embedding renewable technology seamlessly into the architecture, the scheme avoids the visual disruption often associated with bolt-on sustainability measures.

Ultimately, this project illustrates how thoughtful architectural design, underpinned by innovative materials such as Eco-brick, can deliver homes that are both contextually appropriate and future-ready. The development achieves a high standard of visual coherence and material richness, while providing tangible benefits for residents through reduced energy consumption and enhanced comfort.

In demonstrating how low-carbon innovation can sit comfortably within the language of traditional masonry architecture, this scheme represents a compelling model for sustainable residential design.