How to live the wood life

Proof that eco-living isn't all dungarees and dungpits lies here, says Hazel Davis

If you're getting together a group of people with whom to create your dream of self-sufficient living, you could do a lot worse than have amongst your number two architects and a builder.

Luckily, when Jonathan Lindh had the idea of living an eco-lifestyle, he knew all the right people. Situated in Allerton Park in the Leeds suburb of Chapel Allerton, Jonathan Lindh's home is part of Gledhow Eco-houses, an ecologically friendly plot of three timber terrace houses.

Says Lindh, an architect: "My wife and I had been looking for a site on which to build our own house and had decided that ideally we wanted to find somewhere in Gledhow Valley.

"A chance conversation put us in contact with our now-neighbour who was looking independently. After initial interest from others, the core group emerged. Interestingly, we all lived within 300 yards of each other." The group worked together from purchase of land to the installation of the roof. From this point each householder followed their own programme.

The post-and-beam timber frame constructions are based on the Segal method, a traditional drybuild system. The development uses grey-water recycling, a reed-based system for reusing bath water and washing-up water, and also compost toilets. After two years the Lindhs reverted to mains water but still use a reed-bed to treat waste water. Although the basic plans of the houses are similar, many features give them their

individuality. The staircases in each house are similar but completely different in character. One staircase has a wall with planters, one uses branches as handrails. The Lindhs have built a bookcase with steps widening out to form reading seats.

From the start, the couples set goals for the project. These were: to use materials that didn't take a lot of energy to produce; to achieve high levels of energy efficiency and insulation; to conserve water using grey-water recycling; to minimise the impact on the natural environment of the site by using minimal foundations and a planted roof (thereby further insulating the property while creating new natural habitats); and to create a healthy internal environment.

"If there hadn't been so many architects and builders in the group, I am sure we wouldn't have been so ambitious," says Lindh.

The project wasn't without its challenges, though. "We didn't sell our house for as much as we had hoped. Also, we tried to do as much as we could ourselves which slowed everything up," says Lindh. Harriet, too, became ill after 18 months (she had completed a carpentry course and was doing most of the building).

However, a major benefit for Lindh was that he cemented a relationship with his future business partner Matthew Hill who designed the heating system. Lindh now runs LEDA (Leeds Environmental Design Associates) with Hill, aiming to improve environmental performance of buildings through design.

The Lindhs' house is now worth about £300,000. "But most of all," adds Lindh, "we all stayed friends while we created three experimental houses that most people could only dream of building."

Contact www.leda.org.uk