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  • A timber lattice being constructed for use as a retaining wall.

    Timber retaining wall

    This timber lattice provides an ecologically friendly solution to retaining the considerable bank that rises to the front of the site.

  • A completed timber lattice used as a retaining wall.

    Preparing the site

    The site is levelled in preparation for the foundations for the frame.

  • A lorry delivering timber to a framing yard.

    Timber arrives

    The Douglas fir timbers arrive at the framing yard.

  • A Douglas fir frame being hand cut in a framing yard.

    The carpentry begins in the framing yard.

    The timbers are laid out, the joints marked, cut then pre-fitted.

  • The roof for a Douglas fir frame being hand cut.

    The carpenters start cutting the roof timbers.

    The roof timbers have had the joints cut and are pre-fitted before beign marked and teh off-set peg holes are drilled.

  • Micro pile foundations being laid.

    On site, the foundations are laid.

    As the timber frame is post borne above large ground floor beams, this enables the economic use of a micro pile system of foundations.  The site and ground conditions were difficult, so this system helped to minimise the structural costs.

  • Scaffolding and safe working platforms on a self build project.

    Scaffolding is erected

    The scaffolding provides safe working platforms for the carpenters during the frame raising and for the following trades.  This site was on a steep slope, so a scaffolding deck was provided so that the frame elements could be assembled before lifting them into position with a crane.

  • Planed and oiled Douglas fir frame arriving on a lorry.

    The completed frame arrives at the site

    The frame is delivered as a kit of parts.  All the joints have been cut and pre-fitted and in this case, each timber has been planed and oiled prior to raising.

  • A Douglas fir cross frame being assembled on a scaffolding deck.

    We begin to put the first cross frame together.

    The timber frame elements are assembled on the scaffolding deck and are pegged together.

  • A Douglas fir crossframe being lifted into place by a crane during a frame raising.

    The first crossframe is lifted into place.

    The newly assembled cross frame is lifted off of the scaffolding deck and into place in the emerging frame.

  • The construction of a curvilinear Douglas fir roof.

    Work starts on the roof timbers.

    The curved roof timbers are lifted into place and their joints pegged tight.

  • Green oak and Douglas fir being integrated into a new frame for a straw bale house.

    We move onto fitting the oak deck.

    The oak deck joists are fitted.  This part of the frame will be exposed to the weather, so durable green oak has been specified in these areas.

  • Newly fitted first floor joists in a building site.

    Site carpentry begins

    The primary frame is now complete and the site carpentry begins.  This image shows the newly fitted first floor joists.

  • The construction of a straw bale house, with a curved roof.

    Closing in

    The roof has been constructed and shelters the work below.

  • Straw bales on a tractor.

    The straw bales arrive

    The straw, which has come from a local farm, arrives and will shortly be used to make the house's walls.

  • A straw bale wall being built.

    Straw bale walls are built

    The straw bales are neatly laid to construct the walls.

  • An almost finished straw bale wall.

    Windows are formed

    Work on the walls progresses and the bales are built around the window opening sub frames.

  • The outside of a straw bale house, during its construction.

    The straw bale wall is carefully finished and checked

    Attention to detail, especially the connections between the straw bales and other building elements is crucial to ensure future weather tightness and thermal performance.

  • Lime render being applied to a straw bale wall.

    Lime render is applied to the straw bales.

    A natural lime based render is applied to the bales, which will protect the straw with a breathable hard finish.

  • Lime render being sprayed on a straw bale wall.

    Lime rendering continues

    The first floor bales are lime rendered using modern spray equipment.

  • Breathable membrane on the outside of a wall during building work.

    Breathable membrane attached

    After the lime render, further protection is given to the straw bale walls where they are most exposed at the first floor level.  This is done by applying a breathable membrane attached to battens before the timber cladding is fitted.

  • The eaves of a straw bale house.

    Careful detailing

    The scheme has been designed to protect the walls as much as possible.  Here you can see the deep eaves, which will give generous protection to the walls from the prevailing weather.

  • The interior of a Douglas fir framed house with a sheeps wool wall being built.

    Work begins on the internal walls

    The internal walls are insulated with sheeps wood.  On the external walls, the double glazed units are fitted to the joinery.

  • Inside a Douglas fir framed house during its construction.

    Internal walls are closed in.

    The internal partition walls are almost finished and the ceilings are fitted.

  • A feature window within the living space of a timber framed straw bale house.

    Inside the finished house

    The new house is warm and light. The frame has mellowed and the house is feeling comfortably lived in.

  • The fitted kitchen in a Douglas fir house.

    The finished kitchen

    The fitted kitchen fits well within the frame layout.

  • The outside of a straw bale house with a curved roof, timber cladding and lime render.

    The finished rear elevation

    The outside of the building shows the timber cladding to the upper storey and oak framed balcony lying beneath the curved roof.  Combined with the rendered walls of the lower storey and the detailing around the windows, the finished house has an interesting mix of materials and forms.

  • The front of a Douglas fir framed straw bale house with a curved roof.

    The front of the house

    Access to the house is gained from the front of the first floor via a glazed conservatory frame.

  • A timber lattice being constructed for use as a retaining wall.
  • A completed timber lattice used as a retaining wall.
  • A lorry delivering timber to a framing yard.
  • A Douglas fir frame being hand cut in a framing yard.
  • The roof for a Douglas fir frame being hand cut.
  • Micro pile foundations being laid.
  • Scaffolding and safe working platforms on a self build project.
  • Planed and oiled Douglas fir frame arriving on a lorry.
  • A Douglas fir cross frame being assembled on a scaffolding deck.
  • A Douglas fir crossframe being lifted into place by a crane during a frame raising.
  • The construction of a curvilinear Douglas fir roof.
  • Green oak and Douglas fir being integrated into a new frame for a straw bale house.
  • Newly fitted first floor joists in a building site.
  • The construction of a straw bale house, with a curved roof.
  • Straw bales on a tractor.
  • A straw bale wall being built.
  • An almost finished straw bale wall.
  • The outside of a straw bale house, during its construction.
  • Lime render being applied to a straw bale wall.
  • Lime render being sprayed on a straw bale wall.
  • Breathable membrane on the outside of a wall during building work.
  • The eaves of a straw bale house.
  • The interior of a Douglas fir framed house with a sheeps wool wall being built.
  • Inside a Douglas fir framed house during its construction.
  • A feature window within the living space of a timber framed straw bale house.
  • The fitted kitchen in a Douglas fir house.
  • The outside of a straw bale house with a curved roof, timber cladding and lime render.
  • The front of a Douglas fir framed straw bale house with a curved roof.