Eco-Friendly Tree Houses
The property features: Ø solar panels Ø solar hot water Ø two types of window insulation Ø floor insulation Ø door insulation Ø ceiling insulation Ø CFL lighting Ø a vegetable garden on-site to make the building food-sufficient Ø recycled timber Ø compressed straw walls between rooms Ø plant shading and retractable awnings to keep the sun off windows in summer Ø water tanks Ø compost Ø fertiliser production
The term "ecologically-friendly" is an uncertain measure, normally defined as "creating little impact on the environment. Our aim: To create the vision of a house which would work in harmony with the nature already in residence.
„To work like a tree”, being an adaptable and beautiful timber structure taking its energy from the sun. The timber clad staircase curving up the front of the house creates a trunk-like form and at the top of the house exposed branch-like trusses hold up the roof.
Using many reclaimed, recycled and second hand materials and products. Sustainable timber is used for the main structure and the roof tiles are made using recycled plastic. Recycled newspaper forms the wall insulation and reclaimed teak the flooring material. Even the paints are fully organic and therefore containing none of the toxic ingredients of more traditional products. An attractive mix of finishes: brick, wood, steel and renderboard
The house was designed to be as insulated and airtight as possible. What heating and hot water is needed is supplied by the solar thermal panel on the roof and the ground source heat pump in conjunction with the underfloor heating system. Electricity comes from photovoltaic panels, also on the roof.
• The house takes up only a third of the plot, leaving plenty of room for the existing animal residents in an organic garden with flowers to attract bees, butterflies and other insects and places to nest for birds, bats, bees and wasps. • A small pond was also built to bring even more wildlife into the garden.