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Design – simple, alined with natural systems
solar orientation, high thermal mass, insulation, natural ventilation
Systems – ecological, to harvest and recycle
renewable energy, water collection, wastewater recycling, food growing
Materials – affordable, low carbon
local, renewable, recycled, upcycled materials
A groundhouse is simply a home that is alined with natural systems. During 2008 and 2009, my partner and I worked with a great team and designed and built the Brittany Groundhouse. The fruition of a 10 year strand of work, the aim was to build a home based on the most sustainable design, systems and materials. The project was filmed and broadcast as part of the 2009 Grand Designs series in the UK.
This website currently provides an overview of the choices we made, to help anyone wishing to build or retrofit a groundhouse. It also outlines a future project and begins to map out the spectrum of natural building techniques that can be drawn upon for inspiration. Daren Howarth, Spring 2010