Thu, 28 November 2019
Ben Adam-Smith shares some of the questions that got asked about the Passivhaus standard during a question and answer session at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Thu, 7 November 2019
Olga Turner Baker describes the WELL Building Standard and explains how the principles can be applied to improve health and well-being on individual projects. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Wed, 30 October 2019
Chris Parsons returns to Ben Adam-Smith's self build home after a year to look for defects. He explains what snagging is, how the list is compiled and how the rectification process works. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Wed, 23 October 2019
Self-builder and renovator Jason Orme reflects on the main challenges you face if you want to tackle a house build in the UK. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Wed, 16 October 2019
HPH267 : Self build tips, eco design and the climate emergency – with Kevin McCloud from Grand Designs
Kevin McCloud from Grand Designs shares practical advice on how to approach an ecological build, and comments on how architecture needs to change to address the climate emergency. Check out the show notes for more information: |
Thu, 10 October 2019
HPH266 : How to invest sweat equity into a project while maintaining quality – with Ajay Boardman and Nigel Bowley
Client Ajay Boardman and her builder/carpenter Nigel Bowley share their experience of working together on her self build project. In addition to project managing Ajay is labouring for Nigel. We look at why this relationship has worked well and consider how much money she is saving. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Sun, 6 October 2019
HPH265 : Preserving the beauty of a building while renovating to EnerPHit standard – with Jonathan Kearns
Jonathan Kearns of Kearns Mancini Architects, describes how he tackled a high performance retrofit of a century-old building. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Wed, 25 September 2019
Mark Siddall from LEAP explains his framework the 'Forever Home Lifestyle' and how he uses it with his clients. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Sun, 8 September 2019
HPH263 : A step-by-step EnerPHit retrofit of a mid-terrace home – with Harry Paticas from Arboreal Architecture
Harry Paticas of Arboreal Architecture explains why care and hard work have been so important to the retrofit of his 1978 mid-terrace townhouse. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Mon, 2 September 2019
Dr Mike Page explains how The Cube micro home project developed and why land availability turned out to be a major issue for those that liked the idea of tiny house living. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Wed, 21 August 2019
Duncan Baker-Brown from BBM Sustainable Design explains how we can reduce waste on our projects, given a little more time and with a different approach on site. With the construction industry being such a big contributor of annual waste, he also shares strategies for how we could transform things if we treat buildings as material banks, which are built with deconstruction in mind. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Thu, 15 August 2019
HPH260 : What's the difference between a self build and a speculative development? – with Mark Stevenson
Managing Director of Potton Homes, Mark Stevenson, looks at how self build, custom build and speculative development differ. Check out the show notes for more information: |
Mon, 29 July 2019
Mike Coe has a progress report from Portree Passivhaus, which is now almost watertight. We pick up the story as the groundworks begin and look at some of the challenges as the superstructure has gone up. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Fri, 19 July 2019
HPH258 : Using a turn-key design and build company to deliver an ecological home – with Neil Sutherland
Neil Sutherland explains how using a design, manufacture and delivery company can give you a better quality of construction. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Sat, 6 July 2019
Ben Adam-Smith runs through the biggest problems you could face on your self build journey. He also looks at what can be done in those situations. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Fri, 28 June 2019
Tom Heywood from Green Building Store explains why we need mechanical ventilation with heat recovery in high performance homes and why it needs to be well designed. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Wed, 19 June 2019
Chris Herring, Director at Green Building Store, explains why careful consideration should be given when specifying windows. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Fri, 14 June 2019
Jeremy Lent, author and integrator, looks at how and why we should transform the fundamental basis of our civilisation. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Wed, 5 June 2019
Property developer and podcaster, Rob Bence, advises on what's needed for undertaking a successful building development project. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Sat, 1 June 2019
Chris Magwood, a director at the Endeavour Centre in Canada, explains the importance of embodied carbon and how building with plant-based materials could transform our new homes into carbon sinks. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Fri, 24 May 2019
Charlie Luxton shares lessons he's learnt from visiting projects on Building The Dream, running an architectural practice and completing his own self build. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Fri, 17 May 2019
Ben Adam-Smith picks out ten of his favourite new build homes. These are all homes he has visited and which have impressed him in different ways. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Fri, 10 May 2019
Danny Luhde-Thompson explains why he chose to demolish the bungalow he was renovating, to build a contemporary Passivhaus. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Wed, 1 May 2019
Resident of Marmalade Lane cohousing, Jan Chadwick, explains why living in a multi-generational community is so important to her. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Wed, 24 April 2019
Bill Butcher from Green Building Company, the construction division of Green Building Store, explains how they tackled two radical retrofit projects in West Yorkshire. Each took a 'whole house' fabric first approach in order to improve comfort levels and reduce the heating bills. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Wed, 17 April 2019
HPH246 : Self build mortgages that promote sustainable living – with Paul Ellis from Ecology Building Society
Paul Ellis, Chief Executive of Ecology Building Society, explains their approach to mortgages that reward energy efficiency and sustainability. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Wed, 3 April 2019
Elinor Olisa explains why her family's health was always paramount to the decision making on this build. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Wed, 27 March 2019
Tiny house and lifestyle blogger, Jenna Spesard, explains why she didn't want to spend her life working to pay for a house, but instead wanted a house that would work for her. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Wed, 20 March 2019
Architect and author Sarah Susanka explains why bigger isn't always better when it comes to building a house. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Thu, 21 February 2019
Phil McGeevor, Chair of Cannock Mill Cohousing, describes the 12-year journey it's taken to realise their cohousing community for older adults. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Fri, 8 February 2019
Ben Adam-Smith shares 10 tips for creating a budget, which is detailed and realistic. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Wed, 30 January 2019
Ben Adam-Smith runs through a few ideas of how to get started on your self build journey. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Wed, 23 January 2019
Matthew Cutler-Welsh takes us through three exciting projects that are making an impact in New Zealand. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Wed, 16 January 2019
Architect Adam Cohen explains how his modular construction system is making Passive House building simple and affordable. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Thu, 10 January 2019
Architect Richard Dudzicki explains the tricks and challenges of designing a £500,000 house on a £250,000 budget. Check out the show notes for more information. |
Sat, 5 January 2019
Ben Adam-Smith's house build was a core part of House Planning Help. Having completed the project in 2018, Ben Adam-Smith looks at what should come next. Check out the show notes for more information.
|