Skyhouse B&B.

Location: Lewes, East Sussex

Built by: Baufritz (UK) Ltd

Photos: © Baufritz (UK) Ltd

A LUXURY BED & BREAKFASET LOCATED ON THE EDGE OF THE SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK.

Perched on an elevated plot with fantastic views, this Eco B&B is located close to Glyndebourne . Built using pioneering, prefabricated construction technology, this exceptional low-energy Country House offers luxury living in a Baufritz sustainable home, with stunning views over Lewes and the South Downs.

Skyhouse Sussex was built for Amy Burgess who established a successful US mentoring company before moving to the UK in 2010. She was inspired to build her cutting edge eco-house following a meeting with Anita Roddick – founder of the Body Shop – in the 1990s. Amy knew that she wanted her next house to be as sustainable as possible, and considered the eco-house a way of demonstrating to other people how luxury living need not be wasteful or harmful to the environment. Once she had found her perfect site – a private and elevated south-facing plot on a hilltop in Lewes – she commissioned Baufritz to build her dream.

The ground floor boasts plenty of floor space with three double bedrooms alongside a big lounge, an outdoor terrace, a flat roof and a stylish, landscaped garden. On the first floor, a spacious open plan kitchen and living area sit perfectly alongside a private study and an elegant bedroom suite, framing panoramic views through huge triple glazed windows. Each room has access to an outdoor terrace.

Skyhouse Sussex is more than an average carbon neutral home. Unusually for any building in the UK it is carbon negative as it feeds more energy to the national grid than it consumes. It is A+ EPC rated and powered by a highly efficient wood pellet biomass boiler and 32 solar panels – the latter a key feature in the garden. Harvested rainwater is used where possible to service WCs, laundry and garden irrigation. There is an array of additional green initiatives including Baufritz's patented super insulation and LED lighting throughout and a mechanical heat recovery ventilation system.

Once the design was agreed and planning consent granted, Amy's house was built in Baufritz's state of the art factory in Germany using low-carbon construction processes, sustainable timber and other biodegradable building materials, before being shipped to the UK for construction. Baufritz's technology enabled a quick and easy assembly of the main structure in just five days, limiting construction time and eliminating carbon emissions usually associated with traditional construction. Skyhouse Sussex has been built to exceptionally high standards. The use of healthy materials such as non-toxic paint and sealants make it an allergen-free home.

This contemporary country house successfully combines aspirational luxury with clean living by reducing carbon emissions and celebrating nature. Amy is one happy homeowner who feels she participates in the movement towards sustainability and zero carbon footprints, while surrounded by beauty and attention to things that please the soul.'