Mews house retrofit wins RIBA London Award
This fabric-first renovation caught the attention of judges
A highly energy-efficient deep retrofit to a mews house in west London has been announced as one of 42 winning projects in the RIBA London Awards 2022.
The extensive refurbishment project, by Prewett Bizley Architects, improved the carbon footprint of this draughty, energy-hungry mews house in a conservation area in Notting Hill.

Photo: Andrew Meredith
A fabric-first approach
Upgrading the envelope of the building in this way is key to improving its thermal performance, reducing the demand for energy before installing any low-carbon energy solutions.
The old mews was completely stripped and the external walls lined with moisture-permeable insulating plaster made of lime, cork and loam. New sash-and-case windows were installed, with efficient framing and evacuated glass that offers insulating properties close to the performance of triple glazing.
The house is all-electric, with heating and, potentially, cooling provided by a roof-mounted air-source heat pump (ASHP). Its ventilation strategy is mixed-mode, with heat recovery in winter and natural ventilation in the summer.

Photo: Andrew Meredith