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These photographs are a record of Fabrice and me building our 168mē house. The house is as "green" as we could make it, with an ideal solar orientation, almost all the materials are from our land or sourced locally. There are extremely high levels of insulation using straw bales, sheep, goats wool and rockwool. We're off-grid and use wind and solar to generate our electricity and wood and solar for space and water heating. We're currently adding an extension which will more than double the useable space. Latest photos first. We were incredibly lucky to be able to buy the 20 hectares of land where the house is situated, which joins on to the land at the cabin, which joins on to Fabrices's land.

The winter sun's coming in from the west to warm the floor
The winter sun's coming in from the west to warm the floor

The woodburning stove's lit for winter. The home made "tile" floor is wearing well and it's nice and warm for bare feet
The woodburning stove's lit for winter. The home made "tile" floor is wearing well and it's nice and warm for bare feet

The three three metre sections - the mast of the windgenerator
The three three metre sections - the mast of the windgenerator

Winter sun for drying socks
Winter sun for drying socks

Almost ready to cover...
Almost ready to cover...

This bit is of the roof beam is now finished all we have to do is find nuts that fit!
This bit is of the roof beam is now finished all we have to do is find nuts that fit!

Tracing the roof trusses on the back terrace
Tracing the roof trusses on the back terrace

We cut this oak from our woods a few months ago
We cut this oak from our woods a few months ago

Facing the bricks with stone
Facing the bricks with stone

The beams define the space below and you can feel something happening
The beams define the space below and you can feel something happening

Almost ready for the chainage then the roof
Almost ready for the chainage then the roof

Small beams in place on part of the ceiling
Small beams in place on part of the ceiling

Fabrice taking the shuttering off the big upright which will support the main beam. The Russian stove will be built between this and the wall.
Fabrice taking the shuttering off the big upright which will support the main beam. The Russian stove will be built between this and the wall.

The shuttering for the main support beam for the two upstairs floors. The steel is in place, the pour's been done, nothing moved - so far so good. Now we have to wait three weeks before we can build higher so we'll work on the floor and walls to get the single storey part ready for the roof.
The shuttering for the main support beam for the two upstairs floors. The steel is in place, the pour's been done, nothing moved - so far so good. Now we have to wait three weeks before we can build higher so we'll work on the floor and walls to get the single storey part ready for the roof.

Foundations for stove and uprights to support the two bedrooms above
Foundations for stove and uprights to support the two bedrooms above

Wall rendered and painted with bitumen  to keep out the damp. The drainage pipes are under the stones
Wall rendered and painted with bitumen to keep out the damp. The drainage pipes are under the stones

The last of the three main beams being placed gently on to the walls
The last of the three main beams being placed gently on to the walls

Moving in closer to the walls to put the first beam in place
Moving in closer to the walls to put the first beam in place

Fabrice directing our neighbour where to place the first beam
Fabrice directing our neighbour where to place the first beam

Ready for putting on beams. We'll put them in place and work on the stove foundations for a while to let the beams weather.
Ready for putting on beams. We'll put them in place and work on the stove foundations for a while to let the beams weather.

Our neighbour lifting the first beam with his tractor crane
Our neighbour lifting the first beam with his tractor crane

Position of masonry stove seen from north wall
Position of masonry stove seen from north wall

Shaping and finishing the beams
Shaping and finishing the beams

Here we're going to build a Russian stove with an oven at the back of the stove on top of a work surface.
Here we're going to build a Russian stove with an oven at the back of the stove on top of a work surface.

Using bottles as insulation for under the floor
Using bottles as insulation for under the floor