Gbolade Design Studio Completes Three Rivers Passive House in Hertfordshire
The Three Rivers Passive House, designed by Gbolade Design Studio, spans 5,005 sq ft and is located in Hertfordshire, replacing an existing bungalow. This residence boasts five bedrooms, constructed with Belgian bricks, glazing, and charred larch cladding. A steep incline provides access, leading to an American Oak pivot door and impressive 4.5 m-tall glazing that opens into a double-height entry hall featuring a circular rooflight and a central courtyard. The ground floor encompasses a sunken living area, dining space, gym, home office, swimming pool, sauna, and a private suite for senior guests. Drawing inspiration from West African culture, the design emphasizes communal living. It adheres to RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge goals, is Net-Zero, and incorporates low-carbon materials and renewable technologies.
Key facts
- Three Rivers Passive House is a 5,005 sq ft two-storey home in a Hertfordshire valley suburb.
- It was designed by London-based Gbolade Design Studio, founded by Tara Gbolade and Lanre Gbolade.
- The five-bedroom house replaces a tired existing bungalow and is entirely newly built.
- Materials include Belgian long-format bricks, glazing, and smoke grey charred larch cladding.
- The entry features an American Oak pivot front door flanked by 4.5 m-tall glazing, opening to a double-height hall with a circular rooflight.
- The ground floor includes a sunken living space, dining and kitchen, gym, home office, swimming pool, and sauna, plus a private senior-living guest suite.
- The home meets RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge embodied carbon and operational energy targets and is Net-Zero.
- Construction used off-site manufactured CLT and Glulam superstructure, with Air Source Heat Pumps, PV panels, and sedum roofs.
Entities
Artists
- Tara Gbolade
- Lanre Gbolade
- Ellie Stathaki
- Tadao Ando
- Rem Koolhaas
- Glenn Sestig
Institutions
- Gbolade Design Studio
- Wallpaper*
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
- Bartlett School of Architecture
- Thames & Hudson
- RIBA
Locations
- Hertfordshire
- United Kingdom
- London
- Greece
- Thessaloniki