Associated Articles
The Daily Mail - March 27, 2011
Ten Great British Architectural Homes
[Ben Law's] Prickly Nut Wood does what all great architecture does: protect, shelter and reflect its environment, people and personality. It's wonderful and it cost just £26,000 to make
How can a building be more contextual than to be made out of its context? Ben Law lives and works at Prickly Nut Wood in West Sussex, where he makes a living coppicing. He built his own house there using material from the wood around him, leaving no waste and generating all the power himself. It was a real achievement, a perfect example of sustainable construction that made a point without wagging a finger or forcing it down anyone's throat. It does what all great architecture does: protect, shelter and reflect its environment, people and personality. It's wonderful and it cost just £26,000 to make. The thing I recall clearly is the emphasis on craftsmanship and the complete absence of hard hats. What was a great surprise was that Ben wasn't only a superb craftsman, it was his attention to detail. He didn't just grab a handful of twigs and use them to line a roof; he chose them carefully and he took the bark of some and created a pattern. He wove a story into his home.
Read the original article.
How to Build with Roundwood Timber Framing
Treehugger - December 15, 2010
While regenerative coppice forestry may be struggling to take off in the US, in the UK Ben Law's stunning woodland house has shown many people around the world that there are a myriad of ways to work with our woodlands to create building materials, fuel and food from what surrounds us. Roundwood timber framing is one such technique that uses the natural strength and beauty of wood in its most natural form. Who better to demonstrate it to us than Ben Law himself?
Read the entire article at Treehugger.com.
Ben Law’s woodland classroom
Humble Designs - November 19, 2010
During the summer I was lucky enough to visit the Sustainability Centre in East Meon, Hampshire and capture a few photos of Ben Law’s recent roundwood timber frame building project, an outdoor classroom and course venue. Some of these are below, plus you can view others at the London Permaculture Flickr site. A truly wonderful and inspiring project, its also well worth checking out Ben’s recent book about Roundwood Timber Frame Building, plus the DVD he has made about this project, both of which are available via Permanent Publications’ Green Shopping Catalogue - proper reviews to follow!
See the excellent photos of Ben's building on Humble Designs' Website.
View Cart
