In 2003 Ben Law captivated the nation by building his woodland house on Channel 4’s Grand Designs programme, the home was later voted the most popular Grand Design ever by viewers. The presenter, Kevin McCloud, loved the project so much that he has written the foreword to this book! A Grand Designs Revisited programme was aired on British TV in October 2005.
Full of stunning colour photographs, The Woodland House is a visual guide to how Ben built his outstandingly beautiful home in the woods. It is also a practical manual, and the story of a man realising a lifetime’s dream to build one of the most sustainable and beautiful homes in Britain.
The Woodland House gives details of the evolving design process, the identifying of materials, costings, project management and the actual building. It proves that low cost, low impact and high aesthetics can go hand in hand and that it is possible to build green and affordably.
As the pre-eminent UK example of building with wood and renewable materials this will also appeal to the growing number of people with environmental and green interests, as well as to the building community.
“The Woodland House is a gorgeous and glowing testimony to Ben’s house. It has enough text to tell you what you need to know, but it lets the colour photos do most of the talking.”
Rob Hopkins, Transition movement
Book Details
Published: 2nd edition reprinted 2010 (first published 2005)
ISBN: 978 1 85623 044 5
Size: 250mm x 220mm
Format: Paperback, 110pp. 98 colour photographs; 10 line drawings
Author
Ben Law has always had a passion for healthy, biodiverse farms and woodlands. He previously worked on a smallholding; growing fruit and vegetables and looking after livestock. Having gained an Advanced National Certificate in Agriculture, Ben became a shepherd and set up a conservation landscaping business, specialising in ponds and wild flower meadows. Woodlands were a natural progression and, after seeking out a few experienced coppice workers, he began work in the woods and in associated coppice crafts.
