Penwhilwr
Design brief -
To build a beautiful, low impact, two storey load-bearing straw bale home. The house had to be sensitive to its natural environment, self-sustaining and made from natural and mainly local materials. An off-grid system was specified, to be powered by sun and wind, with all waste to be composted on site through an Aquatron system and fuelled by its own woodland.
How the brief was met -
This 'Quiet Earth Project' two storey load-bearing straw bale house; the first in the UK, second in Europe, delivers beyond expectations. With a u value of 0.13, the straw bale walls with thermafleece in the cedar shingled roof are highly insulating, requiring only a wood burner using coppiced wood for heating. The solar panels, thermal system and wind turbine supply all requirements on a 24v system. The house is abundant in natural materials - the floors are wood, slate, glaster limecrete and earthen, with leca insulation. The straw walls are rendered with lime and clay, with a stone turret for the bathroom. All timbers are locally sourced. This is an aesthetically harmonious, chemical-free home which breathes with its owner.
