We are seeking to deliver economic and practical models of building which provides a flexible template for either residential or workplace use in a rural environment.
In particular, we are addressing three key issues in 21st century living:
Environmental Sustainability, Rural Landscape & biodiversity preservation and Personal Health

Environmental Sustainability
The continuing rate and manner of Global industrialised development, whilst providing some major advances in the quality of living, is environmentally and socially unsustainable. For centuries, the focus of most architectural design has been within the thinking of seeing mankind being separate from his environment and consequently buildings (even the most 'sustainable') tend to have a negative ecological and environmental effect. Approximately half of the world's materials and energy are used by buildings, contributing to 40-50% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Governments' introduction of more stringent environmental regulations are focussed on slowly minimising such negative effects.

We believe that, by learning from nature, there are ways buildings can be designed which, over their lifetime, actually provide a positive environmental contribution. Our design work will typically marry current and future technological advances with traditional methods of construction in achieving this aim. Whilst there are practical compromises that need to be made in the short term, seeing a building as integral to its environment allows one to take an appropriately long-term view when considering building methodologies and materials.

Our designs work by applying best practice in conventional, sustainable construction through the key principles of:
1) Maximising locally-sourced sustainable materials,
2) Applying efficient but low-intensity methods of construction: and
3) Delivering an energy-efficiency which requires the minimum of external heat sources and is orientated to future maximisation of alternative energy sources.

Personal Health
The Issue - We spend 90% of our time indoors, and 65% of our time at home. There is a growing awareness of how design, ergonomics and building materials can have a significant impact on our health and well-being. In office environments 'Sick Building Syndrome' is now a serious, multi faceted issue which can have a major effect on bottom-line productivity.

The World Health Organisation estimates that 30% of commercial buildings suffer from Sick Building Syndrome. Equally the toxicity within many 'cocooned' modern homes is now being revealed as the cause of many health problems for the occupants. There are 150 toxic substances commonly found in households that are 3 times more likely to cause cancer than any other causative factors.

In aiming for the optimum healthy indoor environment our approach covers three critical issues: Light (natural and artificial), Air quality and interior design aesthetics. The team is continuing to explore these and a broad range of other issues across their respective disciplines in seeking to create buildings that can positively support our health and well-being. The inclusion within our core and associate teams of health professionals with particular expertise on these issues as an important but often overlooked area in building design.

Rural Landscape and biodiversity Preservation.
We have particular interest, understanding and expertise in the conservation of our natural environment, enabling developments wherever possible to actually enhance the local biodiversity and visual landscape.

Urban growth in the developed world is resulting in much of the remaining rural landscape being threatened by development - 90% of the county councils in the South and East of England have concerns about the environmental impact of meeting present or future housing figures. Through the 'Barker Review' on Housing Supply (published 17th March 2004) the Government is starting to look at initiatives which address the conflicting environmental and housing pressures. Certainly, projected UK demographic changes all point to ever increasing pressure for development in rural areas. There is also a struggle to maintain economic and social viability in many rural communities in contrast to the affluence of many suburban city dwellers.

Helionix Designs’ philosophy to design and project management