Eco home slide show
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Zero carbon is normally associated with cutting edge technology, but the architect of this home turned to 600-year-old building techniques.
Richard Hawkes used a type of construction known as timbrel vaulting to create the home, which is basically a 20-metre wide arch. This uses thin bricks to create a strong building with good thermal mass, without using environmentally harmful materials such as reinforced concrete.
Inside it comes into the 21st century, with a combined photovoltaic and thermal heating system, an 11kW biomass boiler, and triple-glazed windows.
Mr Hawkes will be the first occupant of the building, which is appearing on the Channel 4 TV show Grand Designs. Structural design was by Michael Ramage at the University of Cambridge, and Philip Cooper, director of Scott Wilson Engineers.
They hope it could form a blueprint for more widespread developments of zero carbon homes.
Mr Ramage said: ‘The design is cost-effective in that the home is relatively simple to build and, once you know what you’re doing, quick.
‘Many of the costs come from the new technology it uses for energy storage and generation. If those become more widely available, making a similar house cheaply in larger quantities may be possible.’
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Readers' comments (1)
Paul Geering | 08/07/2009 0:44 am
It is fantastic to see some common sense in the world when it comes to building. Pitty the powers to be in the land down under are a little behind the eight ball when it comes to zero energy homes. I want to build with materials out of europe but the local council are making it hard for me. Well Like Ned Kelly I'm going to push along and bend the rules to make my own Aussie zero carbon/energy home.
Wish we had people/ businesses like the guys that designed and built this one in Australia well done blokes!!!
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