Log House
In designing your home, it is important to consider the choice of material early on.
The main reason that we chose timber as our primary building material was that it was a healthy, natural, ecological material. We had attended a course with Peter Cowman at the Living Architecture Centre in Co. Leitrim where Peter compared the materials that we use in construction to our choice of clothing.
Typical houses built over the last few decades built with concrete or even timberframe concentrated on sealing the house, the same effect as us wearing nylon or polyester or PVC clothing. Our bodies aren’t allowed to breathe, we feel warm and sweaty but then cold if there is a change of temperature. Using Natural materials in construction is more like us wearing natural clothing materials such as cotton, wool or hemp. Our body can breathe. Similarly with our homes, we create a healthier environment inside by using breathable materials in the construction phase
The house is located in a secluded site which is surrounded with native woodland. The house features small windows to the front (north-facing) which have a vertical emphasis. This is in keeping with planning design guidelines in this region of Ireland. There are flatprofile black clay tiles on the roof which again are in keeping with roofing styles in the region. The back of the house is to the south and overlooks a wetland area. It was designed to maximise solar gain and features large window to the main living area. Central to the living area is a masonry stove and dining area.
The house was constructed in Latvia in the traditional style with craftspeople using just hand tools. The process involved the careful stripping of the bark and two of the outer layers of the tree. Each Log was shaped with hand tools to sit on the log below.
It is worth noting that the average clearfell coupe in Latvia is about 3 hectares, and rotation lengths are in the order of 70 to 100 years.
The House was constructed indoors in Latvia over six months, was then desassembled and transported to Ireland on three articulated trucks. Most of the journey was by ferry and the trucks carried a full payload on their return journey.
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