Manchester’s first zero-carbon rated apartment development, The Xantium Building will have 61 apartments designed to meet ‘Code 6’, the highest possible rating in the new system to measure the sustainability of new homes against categories of sustainable design.
Large windows will maximise natural lighting in the apartment with punched copper screens giving the building a distinctive translucent green hue and providing privacy and solar shading.
All residents’ heat and electricity needs will be met from on-site generation from photovoltaic cells as well as biofuel and biomass generators. Rain and grey water will be captured and recycled to cut water consumption, helped by reduced flow sanitary fittings. The building will also feature a green roof with English native wildflowers and grasses, and an area designed to encourage protected Black Redstart birds.
Commercial units at street level will be constructed to ‘BREEAM Excellent’, the highest current BREEAM rating.