I see lots of new and refurbished buildings in my role as editor of Refurb Projects and the latest one worth highlighting is a stunning new development of 23 apartments in a popular part of west London.
The Mirador on Western is just five minutes’ walk from Action Mainline station which includes both overground and the Elizabeth Line, making it highly desirable for commuters.
This pioneering project is the first in the UK to use Ecodan Hydrodan water to water heat pumps linked to a low temperature heat network. At ground level below the 23 apartments are two flexible commercial spaces.
The apartment block is demonstrating how heat pumps can be used for community heating in a five-storey, art deco-styled block built to the highest standards.
Individual Ecodan Hydrodan heat pumps deliver hot water and heating to each apartment
Carole Titmuss Editor of Refurb Projects
Two key issues
“When we were conceiving the project, we realised that there were two very important things we needed to address. One was sustainability and the other was indoor air quality,” explains Agha Abbas, Projects Manager for Casa Global Investments, the company behind the scheme.
To address the air quality, each apartment is equipped with Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) which brings in filtered fresh air without wasting any energy.
On the sustainability front, heat pumps were chosen so that there was no need for gas on site and there are solar panels installed on the roof, which helps keep energy efficiencies high.
“In line with our sustainability aims, most of our apartments have a winter garden and on top of that, all our appliances are very energy efficient,” adds Agha Abbas.
Individual apartment heat pumps
But it’s the building’s use of a low-temperature heat network that really helps set it apart and the use of the innovative Ecodan Hydrodan heat pump, which delivers hot water and heating to each apartment.
WB Shiles are the M&E Consultants for the project and Director Evan Shiels explains: “We’re using the Mitsubishi Electric system because it fits with the ethos of the whole building, which is all about sustainability, energy consumption and being green”.
Each apartment has a Hydrodan unit which is specifically designed to connect to low temperature heat networks.
“Hydrodan includes a water cylinder and an internal heat pump, which upgrades the water temperature from the heat network to supply all the heating and hot water each apartment needs, explains Rafiul Islam, Product Specialist at Mitsubishi Electric.
Low temperature heat network
The heat network to the apartment block is supplied by three Ecodan CAHV air to air heat pumps in a specially built plant space at the rear of the property and this means that the entire heating and hot water system is completely electric.
Each CAHV unit is capable of 40kW of heating capacity and multiple units can be cascaded together to reach higher capacities as well, meaning it can be applicable to a wide range of applications.
A distinctive style
The form of the Mirador on Western echoes the Art Deco buildings which have historically lined the western gateways to London.
The external cladding provides a distinctive character with the introduction of a simple dual material palette consisting of pale buff brick and a pale glazed brick.
The apartments also feature large terraces and balconies, with beautiful, elevated views of London.
“The stylish finish of each apartments demonstrates the investment that has gone into the building,” explains Evan Shiels, “it was therefore really important that the project followed that principle with the building services which is why we picked a future-proof technology for the heating system.
Carole Titmuss is Editor of Refurb Projects
