Desco begins specialist accommodation project at Rathfinny Estate

The 1200 ton winery is developing a specialist accommodation project in the South Downs, which will replace the derelict 19th Century Flint Barns, and will house seasonal workers from September 2014. Desco will collaborate with East Sussex-based architect Anthony Sherwin and designer Martin Swatton on the entire Rathfinny development project with further architectural design by Design Cubed.

A key element of the redevelopment project will involve the use of sustainable design techniques and innovative low carbon technologies across the whole of the 46 bed hostel-style accommodation and the wider estate. The core design team is also taking extra consideration to remain sensitive to the historical nature of the building, developing accommodation that blends within the backdrop of the natural landscape.

Various energy saving building techniques have been employed throughout the accommodation building and winery, including the use of locally sourced cladding to ensure minimum wastage from the cutting process and the use of quality composite window frames including aluminium and timber for improved energy efficiency. The development of the on-site renewable cooling systems have also been a key mechanical focus, with air source heating pumps developed to lower carbon emissions.

A 50kw photovoltaic solar farm has been developed to support the entire site, which has been built by Desco at the winery. It includes photovoltaic generation capacity and incorporates a host of energy saving building techniques to enable a near carbon neutral production of high quality wines.

Ground water is also being sourced from the Estate’s own bore hole, and is purified to remove calcium and microbes. The waste water used within the wine making process will be treated on site and released back onto the land. With an extensive wildflower green roof to blend seamlessly into the national parkland setting, the roof will help support thermal insulation of the building, whilst also providing significant solar shading avoiding the need to air condition spaces.