CLOSER LOOK: MILL RECONSTRUCTED IN ICF

Insulating concrete formwork’s excellent performance in damp conditions was the main driver for its use at this former corn mill in West Yorkshire. The property underwent significant demolition and rebuilding, but retains its traditional appearance, with the original water wheel and millpond still in place.

The new structure of the 1,065m2 home was created in Nudura’s ICF system. Harrogate-based architecture practice Studio Map oversaw the project. Key works included the removal and rebuilding of the top two floors, as these had been damaged by water from the leaking millpond, which sits at a higher level. The ICF structural shell was clad in stone reclaimed from the site, so that old and new are indistinguishable. The most distinctive feature is a new circular tower, winding up from a wine cellar to a dining room, and up to the master bedroom – firm proof that this system can cope with unusual design features such as curves.

In addition to its ability to meet the numerous waterproofing challenges this project presented, ICF was also selected because it enabled continuous construction throughout the harsh winter.