I’m currently sat under the pergola of the Nottingham H.O.U.S.E plot with the infamous Ben Hopkins, revelling in our storming performance during the first three jury interviews – Architecture, Industrialisation & Market Viability, and Communications – which finished but seconds ago!
I personally believe that of all the 10 competitions in which we are currently taking place, these are three in which we have a very strong chance. In terms of market viability, the H.O.U.S.E is second to none – despite the prestige of the event, the Solar Decathlon is but a chapter in the project’s story, the next being a move towards making the build a readily-available and mass-produced product, and the ultimate aim being to alter the minds of the British public regarding sustainable housing.
The architectural jury were blown away with Ben, Chris and Rachael’s brilliantly innovative use of existing – and affordable – materials and technologies in the design, creating the comfort of a home with the credentials of future architecture.
And without blowing anyone’s trumpet, I think that even without events like Ecobuild an dSat Bain’s Masterclass, the Communications team have done an absolutely stellar job of promoting the H.O.U.S.E in the run-up to the competition, and again the jury seemed extremely impressed with how we were telling this story on the Villa Solar.
So in short, a hugely encouraging start to the trials. On with the show!
Tom