The Muse: Bere Architects’ Paradisiacal London Home Has Four Roof Gardens, Forty Trees, Ponds and Meadows

Known as The Muse, this incredible greenery-topped energy-efficient solar house is <a title="Bere Architects' Paradisiac Home Has Four Roof Gardens, Forty Trees, Ponds and Meadows in the Heart of London" href="http://bere.co.uk/" target="_blank">Bere Architects</a>' own family home. Located in Newington Green, North London, it was designed to set a standard for sustainable housing even before the firm's <a title="Bere Architects' Paradisiac Home Has Four Roof Gardens, Forty Trees, Ponds and Meadows in the Heart of London" href="http://inhabitat.com/london%E2%80%99s-first-certified-passivehaus-saves-up-to-90-of-energy-bills/" target="_blank">first certified Passivhaus</a> in <a title="Bere Architects' Paradisiac Home Has Four Roof Gardens, Forty Trees, Ponds and Meadows in the Heart of London" href="http://www.camden.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Camden</a> was planned. Featuring triple glazing and<a title="Bere Architects' Paradisiac Home Has Four Roof Gardens, Forty Trees, Ponds and Meadows in the Heart of London" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_water_heating" target="_blank"> solar thermal water heating</a>, the home was designed for energy conservation and it boasts four luscious green roofs. The Muse is also expected to receive Passivhaus certification soon.

Inspired by the German Passivhaus approach Bere Architects' own Director Justin Bere started building his own home back in 2002.

Low CO2 concrete foundations and first floor slab with ground provide thermal mass for stable temperatures and natural summer cooling effect.

With a passionate belief in the urgent environmental need for change, the home was designed for energy preservation.

The house has triple glazing windows all around, 20 inch thick super-insulated walls and very good airtightness, saving up to 95% on energy bills.

The powerful solar water heating system generates enough hot water to dump excess heat into a 36-foot long swimming pool.

Water managment is an important issue, there is no use of chlorine and rainwater is recycled for use in lavatories and the roof gardens if necessary.