Council Houses, Martin, North Kesteven

This second pair of semi-detached houses were designed in 2009 by Jakub Wihan and Barbara Jones of amazonails and built by Carter Homes in 2010. Loadbearing social housing, they are the second of two pairs of council houses designed by the team, and need no framework, being made of loadbearing straw. As with all of Barbara Jones’ designs, there is no cement in the build. The foundations are gravel trenches with a brick plinth wall laid with lime mortar, and foamglas blocks to the interior giving a U value of 0.17. Double glazed timber windows, FSC accredited timber throughout, lime plaster internally and externally and sheepswool insulation to the roof and ground floor, all add up to a house made entirely of natural materials, with no toxic off-gassing from modern products.