The site for Garden House was a derelict walled garden. The design for the house was conceived from a desire to build an energy efficient house and from the need to meet the demands of the local Planning Authority for a development within a conservation area. Energy saving features include a conservatory, used to collect and distribute passive solar heat to all areas of the house, a "green roof" which provides high levels of insulation, a well used to provide water to toilets and the washing machine, and a heat recovery system for controlled ventilation. For the design, Allan Joyce won The Daily Telegraph "Best Basement" and "Best Ecological House" awards in 2001.
