About Caer Llan – the award-winning Berm House
Not withstanding the extensive renovation and restoration undertaken by the Carpenter family since the beginning of the 1970s, the most significant development in Caer Llan's recent history has been the addition of the supremely energy-efficient Berm House in 1988 – long before such projects became commonplace or the concept of eco-friendly construction and sustainability became accepted as ecologically significant.
Designed by Peter Carpenter the Berm House is one of the lowest-energy properties of its type in Europe, an earth sheltered, south facing, passive solar extension to the main house providing additional accommodation at Caer Llan and winner of the 'Euro-solar prize' in 1995.
The Berm House, which contains seven en-suite bedrooms with full disabled access, is a maintenance free building which remains comfortable to live in all year round without the need for heating. The high-density concrete, brick and stone construction provides structural integrity and character whilst thermal stability is achieved by hyper insulation and burying the majority of the construction deep into the hillside. A waterproof membrane cocoons the entire building over which the hillside has been terraced and landscaped to create a lawned garden featuring alpine plants and breath-taking views across the valley to the South.
Inside the Berm House a 35 metre solar corridor – integral to achieving a comfortable living temperature throughout the year – runs the whole length of the building. Matt black bricks (to absorb heat) and white bricks (to reflect heat) form the inner walls of the corridor and create both an aesthetically pleasant environment whilst also being a vital source of solar heat gain by virtue of the large south-facing windows. Each of the spacious bedrooms feature large windows looking out through the corridor and out to the gardens and distant hills. Fresh air is constantly circulated through the rooms by a forced ventilation system.
The Berm House was awarded a Euro-solar prize in 1995* and Caer Llan is home of the British Earth Sheltering Association library, available to BESA members.
More information