City Slickers Rush For Eco Homes

What would you do if planning permission were granted for a block of flats overlooking your garden?

Most of us would probably grow a tall hedge, or move house. But Central London couple Robert Mosley and Amanda Menage had an altogether more interesting idea - they decided to buy the land themselves and become property developers.

But they didn't want to build the usual breezeblock and brick eyesore.

Inspired by the wooden eco houses they had seen in Germany, the couple decided to ensure a nice view out of their back windows by bringing RIKO wooden eco homes houses to the city.

This development of two houses at Camarthan Place in Bermondsey is the first of its kind in the UK, using materials and building methods that Robert and Amanda hope may revolutionise sustainable developments of the future.

These houses shouldn't be confused with wooden framed properties - these have solid wood walls, layered to some six to eight inches thick, forming a breathable skeleton, and allowing the house to create its own microclimate.

The shells were manufactured in Slovenia, and arrived in prefabricated panels complete with windows, insulation and Siberian larch cladding, grown, of course, in sustainable forests.

To fit into the urban landscape, the couple did not want a pastiche Bavarian log cabin. So, working from scratch alongside RIKO they designed what could be urban cottages of the future.

James Ball at estate agency Daniel Cobb was involved with the project from the start. "They wanted to do something radical. To be innovative was their goal, and the eco sustainable angle fed into that."

And their design certainly is radical.

The two individual designs, the two-bed Black House and the slightly larger White House are wooden clad, come with curved walls, atriums and terraces, and have a striking, organic-looking exterior that gives a taste of the radical design within.

It's hard to believe that such innovative design was actually prefabricated in a factory in Slovenia. And, after arriving in five lorries, the shell of the house was assembled in a mere five days.

Then the fun really started, with the couple going to town with the finishes.

"It could've been much quicker and cheaper," says James Ball, "but they had original innovative ideas such as the mottled plaster work and resin floor, so it took several months."

There are several ways in which this development earns its eco brownie points. Firstly, in its construction - as well as being quicker, building off site is also much better for the environment.

Secondly, in the use of wood - according to RIKO, wood is the most energy-efficient of all construction materials.

Five hundred kilowatt hours are needed to produce a single cubic metre of steel, 200 kWh are needed for concrete, but only 30 kWh are used for timber.

And, it's not just in construction that the wooden shell helps save energy. In daily use these houses will also use less fuel.

This is because the wood is an insulator, absorbing and slowly releasing the heat produced by the energy efficient under-floor heating system, so the boiler is used for much short periods.

Heat loss is also reduced by the living roof which is covered in low growing succulents called sedums.

The sedum roof should also prevent the buildings from heating up too much in the summer, and lower the risk of flooding as it can absorb a huge amount of rainfall.

Visible from the terrace, the living roof also provides some welcome greenery in the city environment.

The building of these houses has not gone unnoticed. Before they were officially for sale the owners allowed visitors in for an Open House day. A staggering 1,200 people came for a look.

"We got a huge amount of interest from people who wanted to buy, but they weren't available then," says James Ball.

The houses are now finally on the market, (with brochures printed on recycled paper, naturally) and, with a heady mix of innovative design and a location just five minutes from both London Bridge Station and the Thames, competition is likely to be fierce.

Ball admits these are not probably family homes.: "They're for all those people out there who don't want to leave the area, but want something bigger and more innovative. We're proving it can be done.

"And everybody I've met thinks they're amazing."

"Eco Homes", Camarthan Place, Bermondsey, London SE1 "A contemporary eco development of a three storey town house in the heart of Bermondsey street. Allowing for flexible living accomodation to suit modern needs. Each floor is open plan with a double height atrium which include winter gardens and the house opens onto a terrace from the reception room"   On the market for £775,000 through Daniel Cobb Residential

"Eco Homes", Camarthan Place, Bermondsey, London SE1 "A contemporary eco development of a three storey town house in the heart of Bermondsey street. Allowing for flexible living accomodation to suit modern needs. Each floor is open plan with a double height atrium which include winter gardens and the house opens onto a terrace from the reception room"   On the market for £625,000 through Daniel Cobb Residential

Nikki Sheehan

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