Ecotecture Wins Sustainability Design Awards

The Mid Sussex Design Awards is held every three years to celebrate the best new architectural projects in the area and acknowledge the important role that high quality design plays in enhancing the distinctive character of Mid Sussex.

Ecotecture's Strawdust project was winner of the sustainability category.

Judging panel comments:

A single storey circular home, made from lime rendered straw bales within a locally sourced timber frame structure supporting a relatively large overhanging roof that provides a generous veranda. This was a self-build project, inspired by the owner’s character and influences from living in Africa. Many of the features and finishes are from upcycled and local materials, these together with large shaded south facing glazing, dug in and hunkered-down structure on the north, with low thermal values, make this a text book sustainable design solution.

Although hard to achieve successfully in a round building, the internal spaces are well laid out, with the largest an open plan living area to the sunny side and the bedroom and bathroom to the rear. The judges felt this was a wonderful, affordable new small home, utilising natural materials and ecological construction principles.