The project - Sustainable Optimised Urban Living (SOUL) - consisted of housing and associated amenities in a real-life site in Toton, Nottinghamshire, UK. There was a great interest and high demand for affordable, sustainable, energy-efficient housing that was appropriate to the context and local climate and served the whole community at different levels of their life (e.g., elderly couples, and large young families). The design proposal had to take a comprehensive and cohesive approach, not only integrating environmental design principles but also considering sustainability in its wider scope. Energy efficiency and comfort had to be intrinsic parts of the projects. To align with the ethos of the sustainable design studio, the designer also had to consider other issues such as the overall environmental impact of their schemes, the backing of sustainable lifestyles, social inclusion and community cohesion, users' health and well-being, and compliance with high-performance standards (e.g., Passivhaus).