THE HORIZONT STANDARD
BUILT DIFFERENTLY. DESIGNED FOR GENERATIONS.
A proposed framework for high-performance, lower-energy and long-term residential living.
The HORIZONT Standard brings together the design principles, technologies and performance objectives intended to shape future HORIZONT homes and communities — from energy efficiency and renewable technology to comfort, resilience and long-term ownership.
THE STANDARD AT A GLANCE
ONE STANDARD. MULTIPLE PRINCIPLES.
The HORIZONT Standard is intended to provide a common framework for the design and development of future HORIZONT homes and communities. It brings together energy performance, durability, comfort, renewable technology, smart-home capability, construction quality and the requirements associated with long-term ownership.
The objective is not simply to create visually distinctive homes, but to develop a housing product capable of meeting the practical expectations of homeowners, developers, lenders, insurers and public-sector partners.
01 — LONGEVITY & STRUCTURAL PERFORMANCE
Target 100-Year Design Life
Durability and long-term performance should influence the structural system, material specification and component selection from the beginning of the design process.
Structural Resilience
Homes should be engineered around appropriate structural loading, movement, wind resistance and location-specific conditions, subject to final structural design and engineering verification.
Climate Resilience
Materials, building-envelope systems and mechanical systems should be selected with demanding environmental conditions and long-term weather exposure in mind.
Low-Maintenance Exterior
Preference should be given to durable façade, roof and external finishes intended to reduce unnecessary long-term maintenance.
02 — ENERGY & THERMAL PERFORMANCE
Target EPC A
HORIZONT homes should be developed with the objective of achieving outstanding energy performance, subject to final SAP calculation, specification and EPC assessment.
High-Performance Insulation
Building-envelope design should aim to reduce unnecessary heat transfer and support consistent indoor temperatures.
Advanced Airtightness
Airtightness should be considered alongside controlled ventilation in order to reduce uncontrolled heat loss and improve energy efficiency.
Triple Glazing
High-performance glazing should be considered to improve thermal comfort, acoustic performance and year-round energy efficiency.
Mechanical Ventilation
Ventilation systems should support healthy indoor air quality while helping to manage heat loss and moisture.
03 — RENEWABLE & LOW-CARBON TECHNOLOGY
Solar PV
Roof-integrated or architecturally integrated photovoltaic systems should form part of the HORIZONT renewable-energy strategy wherever technically and commercially appropriate.
Air-Source Heat Pumps
HORIZONT homes are intended to be designed around efficient low-carbon heating and hot-water systems.
EV Charging Ready
Residential developments should be designed with the transition to electric transport in mind.
Future Battery Storage Potential
Electrical and energy-management systems should consider future integration of domestic battery technology where appropriate.
Low-Carbon Materials
Preference should be given to recyclable, responsibly sourced and lower-carbon materials wherever technically and commercially practical.
04 — COMFORT, HEALTH & LIVING QUALITY
Acoustic Performance
Building-envelope and internal construction should consider noise transfer and residential acoustic comfort.
Natural Daylight
Architecture should maximise useful natural light while balancing privacy, overheating risk and energy performance.
Healthy Ventilation & Air Quality
Ventilation strategies should help provide controlled fresh air, moisture management and comfortable indoor conditions.
Thermal Comfort
Homes should be designed to maintain comfortable internal temperatures through efficient building fabric and appropriate heating, cooling and ventilation strategies.
Water-Efficient Fixtures
Water-saving fittings and responsible water-use strategies should form part of future HORIZONT specifications.
05 — SMART & FUTURE-READY HOMES
Smart-Home Controls
Lighting, heating, security and selected home systems should be capable of intelligent control and automation.
Energy Monitoring
Homeowners should be able to better understand and manage household energy consumption through appropriate monitoring systems.
Future Upgradeability
HORIZONT homes should be designed with the ability to replace, upgrade or integrate future technologies wherever practical.
Connected Energy Systems
Solar generation, heating, EV charging and future battery systems should be capable of forming part of an integrated home-energy ecosystem.
06 — UK COMPLIANCE, WARRANTY & OWNERSHIP
UK Building Regulations Strategy
Every UK HORIZONT specification should be developed with architects, engineers and specialist consultants around applicable planning requirements, Building Regulations and recognised industry standards.
Fire-Safety Engineering
Fire safety should form part of the design, material-selection and compliance process from the outset.
Recognised Structural Warranty Pathway
Future HORIZONT developments should target an appropriate recognised structural-warranty route suitable for residential ownership.
Mortgage Acceptance Strategy
Lender requirements should be considered early in product development so that the construction system, certification and warranty strategy support future mortgageability.
Insurance Acceptance Strategy
Insurability should be considered alongside structural warranty, certification, fire performance and material specification.
THE HORIZONT STANDARD IS INTENDED TO ADDRESS THE HOME AS A COMPLETE LONG-TERM PRODUCT — NOT SIMPLY THE STRUCTURE THAT IS DELIVERED ON DAY ONE.
All performance levels, specifications and pathways described within the HORIZONT Standard are development objectives. Final requirements will depend on detailed design, engineering, testing, certification, planning, Building Regulations and the specification of each individual development.