Wooden House

Wooden House is a low carbon, contemporary dwelling built using an innovative pre-fabricated straw-bale and timber construction system.

Located in the village of Trebetherick, on the east side of the Camel Estuary, the house replaces a tired dormer bungalow. The footprint has been rotated through 90 degrees to orientate the long elevation due south, with the principal rooms benefitting from direct access to the landscaped garden while being shaded by timber framed brise-soleil and louvred screens.

The main living spaces are positioned on the ground floor, with an open plan and partially double height kitchen, dining and living space, flooded with natural light from above. On the upper floor are four double bedrooms, each one enjoying access to an oak-frame covered balcony space.

The highly energy efficient straw-bale envelope is clad in Cornish Cedar, sourced from the client’s own farmland. Internally the main timber frame elements are left exposed, while the straw panels are finished in a clay plaster for a softer feel, breathable and healthy construction. The use of plastic has been kept to an absolute minimum and petroleum based insulation products have been avoided altogether, with the slim raft foundations sitting on a layer of compacted foam glass.

The site is a haven for wildlife, with numerous bird and bat boxes incorporated within the building fabric and surrounding landscape, plus a shallow pond surrounded by wildflower meadow planting.