November 21, 2024
No. 2 Little Smith Street is in the Westminster Abbey and Parliament Square conservation area. It is a six storey, over-basement residential development a stone's throw from the iconic Houses of Parliament. The development embodies @CIT Group Partners LLP Group’s vision and epitomises sophistication and comfort. It comprises nine exquisitely designed contemporary residences offering an unparalleled blend of modern elegance and timeless charm. The penthouse apartments boast stunning roof terraces offering panoramic views encompassing Westminster Abbey and the iconic London Eye. The Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) systems were designed to blend comfort, sustainability, and efficiency.
The MEP systems used were tailored and coordinated to ensure this luxury residential development enhanced the residents' living experiences while promoting environmental responsibility.
A core objective of our design was to create an environment that maintains the optimal comfort of the residents year-round. We used efficient Wet Underfloor Heating (WUFH) and Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) for heating and cooling, among other technologies. Efficient hot water, heating, and ventilation systems are thoughtfully integrated to maintain optimal indoor temperatures, keeping residents warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Precision Heating
A wet under floor heating system (WUFH) was used as the primary form of heating. The system has several benefits compared to traditional heating systems. It provides a more even heat distribution throughout the space, resulting in consistent warmth from floor to ceiling. This enhances comfort and eliminates cold spots often experienced with radiators.
Wet under floor heating systems operate at lower temperatures than radiators, increasing energy efficiency and lowering carbon emissions. This system also ensured no wall space was taken up, which gave the interior designer greater design flexibility and a cleaner aesthetic.
The WUFH provides an efficient, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing heating solution that meets our clients’ expectations.
Tailored Comfort
A Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) cooling systems provide a highly efficient and flexible solution for indoor climate control focused solely on comfort cooling. These systems use advanced technology to precisely regulate refrigerant flow to multiple indoor units within a residence, all connected to a single outdoor unit.
Our design ensures targeted cooling, delivering energy efficiency by cooling only the spaces in use, reducing overall energy consumption and operating costs. With their quiet operation and compact design, VRF systems minimize noise and space requirements, aligning with the high standards of luxury residential developments.
Their ability to maintain precise temperature control and adapt to varying cooling demands enhances comfort across diverse spaces, making them an ideal solution for premium living environments.
Sustainable Elegance
We used a Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system, which significantly benefits indoor air quality and energy efficiency. An MVHR system effectively reduces indoor pollutants and maintains a healthy living environment by exchanging stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air.
The system captures and reuses heat from the outgoing air to pre-warm incoming fresh air, significantly reducing the energy required for heating and improving overall energy efficiency. This heat recovery process lowers energy bills and enhances comfort by providing a consistent and controlled indoor climate.
MVHR systems help reduce humidity levels and prevent condensation, protecting the building from potential moisture damage. The MVHR system delivers improved air quality, energy savings, and enhanced comfort. We integrated the MVHR and Comfort Cooling System in a combined grille, minimising the impact of the development aesthetic while maximising performance.
Turn in Style
The development has a constrained basement; therefore, a vehicle turntable, vehicle stacker and vehicle lift were used to enhance the convenience of entry and exit. The system simplifies parking by allowing vehicles to be easily rotated and positioned, eliminating the need for complicated manoeuvres in tight spaces before entry into the vehicle lift.
This streamlines the parking process and reduces the risk of accidental damage to vehicles and property, an essential consideration in a luxury development. Using a vehicle stacker also maximises the availability of parking space.
Safer Spaces
A natural smoke ventilation system plays a critical role in ensuring the safety of residents. Designed to remove smoke in the event of a fire, it is essential to protect evacuation routes and minimise the spread of toxic fumes throughout the building.
Strategically placed smoke shafts and vents facilitate the extraction of smoke from stairwells and corridors, helping to maintain visibility and improve the chances of safe evacuation for residents and entry of the Fire Service.
The system is triggered automatically, activating the actuators to allow ventilation. This enhances the building's overall fire safety and ensures compliance with regulatory standards outlined in Approved Document B.
Economical and Effective
Each Lateral Residence has a Gas Boiler as an efficient and reliable solution for hot water and heat generation, providing consistent heating with minimal downtime. They are highly energy-efficient, quickly heating water on demand while minimising energy waste. The system could produce a large volume of hot water, making it ideal for this development and the individual needs of each tenant.
Additionally, modern gas boilers are designed to be environmentally friendly, with low emissions and energy-saving features that align with sustainability goals, all while ensuring comfort and convenience.
Challenges and Solutions
Innovative solutions were demanded to overcome spatial constraints while ensuring the integration of state-of-the-art MEP systems. Due to the compact nature of the development, the MEP services were highly focused on and designed to optimise space without compromising functionality or aesthetics. They integrated innovative technology such as vehicle lifts, vehicle turntables, and vehicle-stacking equipment.
Collaboration and Coordination
We collaborated with architect Rolfe Judd to integrate high-end features seamlessly into the development. These include smart home technologies, speciality lighting, climate control systems, and advanced security and surveillance systems. We utilised the latest advancements in MEP technology and energy-efficient fixtures to align with sustainability goals.
Conclusion
The MEP design developed by the CIT Group Partners LLP, Rolfe Judd and RHB Partnership LLP team has played a vital role in shaping this luxury development's functionality, comfort, and sustainability at No.2 Little Smith Street. By prioritising thermal comfort, indoor air quality and energy efficiency, CIT Group Partners LLP, our client, has created luxury living spaces that meet residents' needs and expectations, minimise environmental impact and embodied carbon and promote long-term sustainability.
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