Nyth Pren | Straw-bale modular House
​Rhoscefnhir, Anglesey, 2018
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This new build eco-home is tucked down the end of gravel track on the edge of open-countryside. After a lifetime of service with Fire and Rescue, our client was looking for his next challenge, to build his home with his own bare hands. He discovered Ecococon Structurally Insulated Panel system (SIPs), insulated with straw. They take our building design and turn it into timber modules, that are then loaded onto trucks, craned onto a concrete raft foundation on site and assembled in a matter of days.
The vision was to create a modest, sustainable two bedroom home, which took full advantage of the views over Snowdonia. We can’t quite believe that our client has managed to undertake the majority of the work himself, with occasional assistance from friends at key moments. He has no background in construction, but has applied himself to the task with passion and determination. The outcome is a house built to Passive House standards, which is a challenge even for experienced builders. The only consequence of undertaking the work himself and his meticulous attention to detail is the extra time it takes to complete the work. There have been more than a few winters in the caravan on the site.
We have worked alongside George Mikurcik, the technical designer for Ecococon in Wales. He is also an architect at Architype, the UK’s leading Passive House designers and has built his own straw bale home. As we had not worked with straw bale insulated SIPs before, his personal experience was invaluable throughout the design process. We learnt for example, that unlike other timber frame systems, a vapour barrier is not required on the interior side of the wall, as the system is fully breathable.
For our client, this has been a passion project and even though building it himself has taken more time, we don’t think he would have it any other way. He is already looking at building a separate annex for guests. One of our favourite touches is the welsh larch cladding which has been charred using the Japanese method of Shou Sugi Ban. Somehow this finish seems fitting for a fireman.
Sustainability Credentials
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Passive House design and construction
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Optimised building orientation
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Super-insulated: 400mm straw + 60mm woodfibre
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Airtight
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Sustainable materials: Locally sourced larch cladding
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Triple glazing
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Renewable energy: Air source heat pump + photovoltaic panels
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Mechanical ventilation and heat recovery​