Tethera — Certified Passivhaus on Ullswater

The Architecture

Tethera is a new-build certified Passivhaus on the peaceful shores of Ullswater in the Lake District, completed in 2021 by its owners and architects, Anna and Russel Hayden (Hesketh Hayden). It replaced a 1950s bungalow that had reached the end of its life with a simple rectangular house whose cathedral-like roof runs the full 14-metre length of the home, framing views of the lake.

The living, dining and kitchen space occupies the double-height half; the other half contains the bedrooms and bathrooms, with a mezzanine above. Both bedrooms have bespoke king-size beds: the master with an ensuite and a freestanding bath looking over the lake, the second served by a family bathroom with a walk-in shower. The mezzanine offers a reading nook and a workspace overlooking the double height.

As a Passivhaus, the house is highly insulated and airtight, with triple-glazed windows, quadruple-glazed rooflights and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR). It is fully electric: the small amount of heating needed comes from two bathroom towel rails, and most of the electricity is generated by the rooftop solar panels alongside battery storage. It was built from prefabricated timber panels manufactured locally in Appleby, insulated with recycled newspaper and sheep's wool, finished with VOC-free Graphenstone paint, and roofed with slate salvaged from the original bungalow.

The Environment

In Watermillock, on the shore of Ullswater, inside the Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape. The house stands among fields where sheep graze for much of the year, with views over the lake and the fells. Aira Force waterfall, Pooley Bridge and Glenridding are a few minutes' drive away, and Penrith connects to the main north-England rail line.

3 unique A-frame cabins