Sustainability

Sustainability is at the heart of our design philosophy at 4+ Design, driving us to create innovative, energy-efficient buildings that harmonize with their environment while shaping a more sustainable future.

The 4Plus Ethos +

At 4+ Design, we are committed to crafting buildings that embody environmental responsibility while maintaining cutting-edge design. 4Plus founder Richard Dudzicki's expertise in sustainable architecture is driven by a deep understanding of global environmental challenges and a dedication to delivering high-performance, eco-conscious solutions. We specialize in applying advanced techniques like Passivhaus principles, ensuring our projects minimize energy consumption, reduce carbon footprints, and promote long-term resilience.

What Is Sustainable Architecture?

We use innovative design strategies to integrate energy efficiency, utilize renewable resources, and create structures that work harmoniously with their surroundings. At 4+ Design, we go beyond the basics of sustainability by employing a holistic approach that addresses energy, materials, water, and comfort—all without compromising on aesthetics or functionality.

Our Expertise

By using advanced insulation, cutting-edge air-tightness and ventilation technology, Passive homes maintain comfortable temperatures throughout every season - reducing your gas, oil, or central heating costs by up to 90%.

4+ Design adapts these principles for projects of any scale, including large commercial and residential developments, ensuring:

• Minimal reliance on artificial heating or cooling systems.
• Consistent indoor air quality through mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR).
• Reduced operational costs and enhanced occupant comfort.

Enerphit

An Enerphit building is a quality-approved energy retrofit with Passive House components. Enerphit is a standard used for highly-energy efficient retrofits of older buildings that would struggle to achieve full Passivhaus certification. By retrofitting an older building instead of demolishing and starting again, this drastically reduces the carbon impact of your building.

Richard's recent Enerphit project was shortlisted in the UK Passivhaus Awards Residential Retrofit category - explore it here.

Thirty Years of Experience

When Richard Dudzicki founded his own practice almost thirty years ago, his ethos was to put sustainability first.

Since then, he's built over 10 certified Passive homes (including Richard’s own family home) and many more Enerphit and sustainable buildings. With Richard's expertise, 4Plus designs award-winning buildings that are better for the planet, your health and reduce your running costs by up to 90%.

Global Impact, Local Expertise

At 4+ Design, we understand that every project comes with unique challenges based on location, scale, and purpose. With our global reach, we bring expertise in navigating local climate conditions, regulations, and cultural preferences, applying innovative solutions to meet international standards of sustainability.

 Our Featured Sustainable Homes

Pitched Passivhaus

Designed to integrate with and echo the 1930's houses in the surrounding Conservation area, Pitched Passivhaus is a new build, cutting edge Passivhaus disguised in a traditional aesthetic vernacular.

MVHR and air source heat pumps are housed in the 'chimneys', while the internal structure was built using CLT to reduce embodied carbon and thermal bridging.

Modernist Enerphit

This award-winning enerphit project gave a new lease of life to an iconic example of 1960's modernist architecture, designed by Michael Blackstock.

What was once drafty, inefficient and damp is now an incredibly efficient home. Now, it has a heat recovery efficiency of 88%, and uses almost 90% less energy than the average UK home. Its annual energy bill is as low as £177, compared to the UK average of £2,499.87 (2022)

Pitched Passivhaus

Designed to integrate with and echo the 1930's houses in the surrounding Conservation area, Pitched Passivhaus is a new build, cutting edge Passivhaus disguised in a traditional aesthetic vernacular.

MVHR and air source heat pumps are housed in the 'chimneys', while the internal structure was built using CLT to reduce embodied carbon and thermal bridging.

Modernist Enerphit

This award-winning enerphit project gave a new lease of life to an iconic example of 1960's modernist architecture, designed by Michael Blackstock.

What was once drafty, inefficient and damp is now an incredibly efficient home. Now, it has a heat recovery efficiency of 88%, and uses almost 90% less energy than the average UK home. Its annual energy bill is as low as £177, compared to the UK average of £2,499.87 (2022)

Low Energy, High Quality and Comfort.

Get in touch today to find out how 4Plus can exceed your sustainability needs, whatever size your project is.

Low Energy, High Quality and Comfort.