Kingston School of Art graduate transforms academic theory into groundbreaking sustainable summer house

A Kingston School of Art architecture graduate has successfully transformed his academic thesis into a pioneering sustainable building, creating an innovative summer house that challenges conventional approaches to environmental design.

Owen Neve, who graduated in June 2024, was commissioned by retired Kingston University Professor Catherine McDermott to design a multi-functional structure combining greenhouse, workspace, and accommodation. The project was initiated following Professor McDermott’s visit to the Kingston School of Art degree show, at which she became interested in the designs and embraced the opportunity to allow young talent to flourish.

The resulting building embodies the philosophy Owen had displayed in his final project exploring seasonal living and the interplay of insulated and uninsulated spaces. Two thirds of the building is an insulated timber structure clad in zinc corrugate; the remaining third is a bare steel and polycarbonate greenhouse. Large moving doors, gates and curtains create adjustable layers that allow the spaces to function separately or as one continuous area, creating different microclimates depending on seasonal needs.

"I'm not interested in battling the weather with mechanical heating and cooling systems," Owen said. "This project proposes an unconditioned architecture that responds naturally to climate variations throughout the year."

The project represented a rare opportunity for an emerging architect to test academic concepts in reality, with close collaboration with builders at the heart of the success of the summer house. "During this project I was able to put into practice so much of what I was working on in my thesis project, try it out and see what actually worked," Owen reflected. "Instead of pretending I knew everything, I would turn areas of uncertainty into opportunities for experimentation and dialogue with the builders – they have knowledge I could never possess.”  

The building's success will be measured through rigorous post-occupancy evaluation, with strategically placed thermometers monitoring thermal performance. "The real success will be whether it can regulate its microclimates as intended," Owen noted. "There is a user manual on the bedside table which guides inhabitants on when and how to operate the layers – half of a successful building is good occupancy”.

McDermott, who established Kingston's renowned Design Curating course and won the Design Museum's inaugural Sir Misha Black Award, said Owen’s designs had meshed with the vision she and her husband had for their new home in Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex. "We felt his understanding of materials and nature was the right fit for our brief," she said. "Rather than buying an off-the-peg summer house – why not create a project to be helmed by one of our most talented students?"

McDermott's support for the talent that has poured out of Kingston School of Art extends throughout her Bexhill-on-Sea eco-house, featuring a carefully curated collection of British design, with particular focus on Kingston School of Art alumni.

The lighting throughout comes from Astro Lighting, founded by product design graduate James Bassant nearly 25 years ago. "I'm a huge fan of Astro lighting - it's gorgeous and very reasonably priced," McDermott explains. Furniture includes the iconic Elan sofa and Hal barstools by internationally acclaimed designer Jasper Morrison, who also studied product design, with “Morrison's designs represent the longevity of Kingston talent - pieces created 30 years ago that remain relevant today,” she added.

The walls display artwork from illustration staff and graduates collected over McDermott's career, including paintings by former tutor David Rees Davies, illustrator Leo Duff, current Made in Hastings director Claire Fletcher, and award-winning animator Ranko Andelic.

"As a design curator the selection of objects comes from the experience of seeing inside talent that stays the distance and holds its importance," Professor McDermott reflected.

"This project demonstrates how Kingston School of Art graduates are addressing contemporary challenges through innovative, environmentally conscious design solutions," she concluded. "It's about supporting emerging talent while showcasing the lasting value of design education."

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