MUCKNELL ABBEY, WORCESTERSHIRE
NEW SUSTAINABLE MONASTERY
The brick built barns at Mucknell Farm date from the early 19th Century and there is evidence of the site being in use from the 15th Century. The Anglican, Benedictine Order of The Society of Salutation of Mary the Virgin purchased the site in August 2008. Acanthus Clews was commissioned to design a new monastery by converting the existing barns with the addition of a new accommodation building and oratory.
A critical requirement of the brief was for the community to live as sustainably as possible. To achieve this the proposals were highly environmentally responsive in terms of construction method and incorporated complimentary alternative energy technologies, including bio-mass, solar thermal and wind power.
MUCKNELL ABBEY
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
- Re-use of redundant buildings where feasible, providing sustainable new uses for the existing structures
- Environmentally responsive highly-insulated new building solutions, incorporating local, natural and recycled building materials
- Biomass boiler to provide heat output
- Solar water heating for the hot water to guest and community accommodation
- Photovoltaics to generate electrical power
- Rainwater harvesting for WC’s, fire and irrigation
- Biodigester and swales to treat sewage on site
- Kitchen garden and orchard to support self-sufficiency
- Estate management, planting of 5,485 trees as long-term fuel source, carbon sequestration, habitats and life-enhancing space.
