PricedOut is a campaign group which acts on behalf of first time buyers and owner occupiers who cannot afford to buy a house in Britain. They argue that the government is largely to blame for this because of the tax advantages of buying a house simply to let it and the encouragement it gives to … Continue reading Priced Out – affordable housing campaign
Lammas, Wales
In early April I visited Lammas (www.lammas.org.uk) in Pembrokeshire to catch up with their progress since they were awarded planning permission for 9 smallholdings and homes in August 2009. Building is quickly progressing on site - there is an almost complete house on plot 7, a straw bale round house on plot 8 and a timber-frame … Continue reading Lammas, Wales
Green Hills, Scotland
Last week I visited Green Hills in Scotland, a small eco-community which makes its living from running a Community Supported Agriculture scheme whereby they sell weekly vegetable boxes of home-grown organic food. They have built an oak-framed straw-bale home in the woods and have recently started building an earth-sheltered house with earth-filled tyres as its back insulating … Continue reading Green Hills, Scotland
More useful books
Broome, J (2007) The Green Self-build Book: How to Design and Build Your Own Eco-home. Green Books, Totnes. This British book is packed full of case studies but also useful reflective chapters on issues such as design for longevity. It's recent publication makes it particularly useful in this quickly evolving field. Contains a good … Continue reading More useful books
Rethinking design: Pattern Language
Alexander et al. (1977) Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction. Oxford University Press, New York, pp.1171. Pattern Language is a way in which to approach architectural design and town planning to maximise the enjoyment and use of the space for people. It is about ensuring that design is for people rather than just to look good. … Continue reading Rethinking design: Pattern Language
ECO-HOMES + COMMUNITIES 