Live Design Theatre

Giving inspiration for what’s possible! Visitors met other self builders and renovators to hear how they did it and what they’d do differently next time.

Earthdome  - Bob Harris

London’s first domestic dwellings (a set of three modern town houses) to be heated from the ground using ground source heat pumps. Earthdomes incorporates traditional building techniques, modern materials and the all-important ‘healthy homes’ thinking in the design.  Bob, Earthdomes creator, is passionate about building healthy homes and will inspire anyone looking to self build to build in an eco-friendly way.

‘Featherbrook’, Potterne, Wiltshire - Peter Kent

Architect Peter Kent’s very own 4-bedroom Zero Carbon Emission Home and Studio that he designed and built for his family on the site of a former turkey farm in the rural setting of Potterne, Wiltshire. Featherbrook was actually recommended for approval by the planning officers as an exemplar dwelling, as it fitted in harmoniously with the existing environment, whilst being zero carbon and hence totally eco-friendly   In attending this seminar, visitors discovered that it is possible to combine a luxury lifestyle with zero carbon living – proof if ever that you really can ‘have it all’ whilst helping the environment.

‘Moonshine’, Bath - Piers Taylor’s

An introduction to Piers’ very own unique, award-winning family home: an ecologically-sensitive addition to a 200-year old school house on a woodland site near Bath (with no car access within 400 yards). Moonshine has featured in 6 awards, has been published internationally in several publications and books and has been the subject of numerous lectures. With an innovative contemporary oak frame and low-cost, unusual materials used in its design, Piers enlightened us as to the fundamental design principles of passive solar design used in the project, through to the actual self build.

The Hardwick' Family Home - Mike Hardwick

Mike Hardwick is a typical self-builder who lives in the Swindon area.  Disenchanted with the scope of new houses on offer, he was determined not to compromise on his family home. Together with his wife, Alison, he bought a plot of land and had their own home designed and built, joining the growing army of 'self-builders'.  With no prior knowledge of the house building industry and with one badly constructed brick barbecue to his name prior to this adventure, he is proof that self building is within the reach of everyone.  Mike is now an enthusiastic advocate of building your own home and was delighted to be given this opportunity to share his experiences with other potential self-builders.  From identifying his plot, through the design & planning process, to choosing his builders and managing the build, we heard why it was all worthwhile and so financially rewarding.

Laurie Blakeman

Laurie Blakeman’s timber frame home complete with basement is proof that self build can be testing at times but ultimately is well worth the pain and effort made.

Laurie has had to dart through hoops dealing with Tree Preservation Orders and having to call in the environmental agency.  Would he do it all again?  Definitely – he’s been bitten by the self build bug, this being his second SB project, complete with games room.  Laurie assures us this is his family’s permanent dream home…..for now!

Ashley Vale - Sustainable, creative and affordable self build homes

Jackson Moulding talked us through his innovative Ashley Vale housing project in Bristol, demonstrating how you can build a house on a low budget which is both sustainable and creative.

Mark Woodhouse

Mark Woodhouse was here to talk about his self-build project in Norfolk.  As house-building novices, Mark and Angela turned to Buildstore throughout the build for help and advice.  Mark’s house is an eco-friendly combination of modern and traditional building methods, using oak framing, steel, and geothermal heating.