Planning the dream

[LouiseSJPP]

The time has come, a little unexpectedly, opportunity being a fickle beast, to move into gear on our dreamed-of eco house, a house that take us in whatever form of retirement we will arrive at.  I hesitate here because we're both very active and I can't see us sitting in front of day-time telly anytime soon.  Nevertheless, we want a house that will look after us, look after the planet and cost next to nothing to run as we get older.  The more we can plan it, design it and build it ourselves, the better.  

 

As far as we can see at the moment, that will be basic design if not detail design done by ourselves, ground works contracted out, above ground works project-managed by ourselves, with at least of lot of second fix done by ourselves.  Probably straw bale, but this needs a full justification.  It will be a very traditional Basque house from the outside, but with a lot of open space on the inside.

 

Currently looking for land, researching build techniques, dipping into French building regs and trying to find our way around design software.

 

Louise

[Gone West]

1 hour ago, LouiseSJPP said:

we want a house that will look after us, look after the planet and cost next to nothing to run as we get older.

Welcome to the forum and good luck with the build. Those were the criteria we used when we designed our house.

[Jeremy Harris]

Welcome to the forum.  Just like Peter, they were also the criteria we used when designing our house - a house with no bills for our retirement!

[Stones]

A warm welcome.  Looking forward to hearing more about your project.

[Nickfromwales]

Welcome aboard .