The Little Acorn

 Chris build this house in 1999 - 2000 with three friends. It was added on to an existing thatched cottage, and Chris designed the building himself along the principles of a barn, with semi-open plan, a gallery with a roof void, and large windows on the South. These allow the houses to be heated passively by the Sun, while blinds prevent excessive temperatures in the summer. There is a strong connection with the conservatory and outside. The wooden framed windows are double glazed, and high levels of insulation result in low heating bills. The walls are timber structures filed with warmcell insulation (flocculated recycled paper), along with Bitvent  (softboard soaked in Bitumen).  The roof has a Tyvek membrane and a breathable cavity under the thatch, with a glassrock board for insulation and fire protection.
The choice of materials make this a house with very low embodied energy, and low environmental impact. The building cost only £36,000.  Chris has five rainwater butts and also collects greywater, which he keeps fresh with pondweed.
The garden is a wildlife haven, with four ponds, each with different fauna and flora, including three types of newt. By dividing the garden into smaller areas with distinct habitats, Chris has created ideal conditions for bank voles, field mice an shrews and possibly a dormouse, as well as nuthatches and woodpeckers. His approach to designing a home in sympathy with its surroundings is inspiring.