Private Client

Budget

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Retrofit projects are notoriously complex already, and so a combined Retrofit and WikiHouse project is a feat worth shouting about.

The client’s brief was ambitious: to transform a traditional 2-stoey semi-detached property in Manchester's suburbs into a high-performance, future-proofed living space. The solution lies in a unique, multi-layered architectural approach, combining a deep retrofit of the existing structure with a WikiHouse single-storey rear extension and a matching standalone WikiHouse annex in the garden.
The defining complexity of the Daybreak Retrofit was the intricate coordination of three distinct construction methodologies. Blending traditional masonry and modern fabric retrofitting with the precision-engineered, digitally fabricated WikiHouse chassis demanded rigorous spatial and technical planning. Integrating these systems alongside a high-performance mechanical and electrical (M&E) strategy, featuring an air source heat pump (ASHP) and a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system, presented a steep learning curve in ensuring thermal continuity and airtightness across old and new structures.

Despite the technical hurdles, the result demonstrates that the coordination of these disparate systems is profoundly worth the effort. Daybreak Retrofit serves as a compelling blueprint for suburban decarbonisation, proving that digital construction and renewable technology can seamlessly merge with Manchester’s existing housing fabric. The project successfully delivers a highly efficient, adaptable, and modernised family home that dramatically reduces carbon emissions while vastly improving the occupiers' quality of life.