5 Incredible Homes Built Using Natural Materials

Brief 

From a zero carbon timber frame to houses made from cork and straw bale, these impressive builds are a showcase for natural building materials. These are some amazing examples of homes which have been (or will be) built that utilise natural building materials to great effect.

Insight

As modern methods of construction develop, homebuilders are discovering new, inventive ways of building homes that are environmentally-friendly – and this can provide inspiration for budding self builders.

The rise of eco homes is inevitable in the push towards net zero, with natural building materials helping to enhance a home’s energy efficiency and lower homeowners’ heating bills.In a recent Homebuilding & Renovating poll, 46% of respondents said that using natural building materials would be very important on a self build project.

These are some amazing examples of homes which have been (or will be) built that utilise natural building materials to great effect.

1. The Zero Carbon COP26 House

The COP26 House is an impressive zero carbon timber frame building in Glasgow that was built for the UN climate summit in November.

Designed by Peter Smith of Roderick James Architects, it has a reduced reliance on concrete and steel, and was built mainly using locally-sourced timber and natural building materials. Its highly efficient levels of insulation means it would only require heating in the coldest times of the year, provided by infrared heating, a low-cost, energy-efficient electric heating system.

Another impressive element of the house is that it was designed so it could be completely dismantled and recycled, which is what will happen this year, before being rebuilt as part of a development of affordable homes. Learn more about the COP26 House.

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