NEW BUILD
Joe and Sally Locke’s sustainable self-build combines an advanced prefabricated building system, groundbreaking technology and 16th-century carpentry skills
HOMEOWNER Joe and Sally Locke
LOCATION Surrey
PROJECT New build
HOUSE TYPE Detached, three-storey, five-bedroom house
SIZE 670m²
BUILD ROUTE Prefabricated building company
BUILD TIME 12 months
BUILD COST £5,500/m²
When Joe and Sally Locke decided to build a house for the second time, they had no hesitation in choosing the same company they had used before to undertake the project. “Back in 2011, we employed the German eco house creator, Baufritz, to design and build our previous home, and were so impressed by the quality and efficiency of the build that we didn’t need to look elsewhere for our next project,” explains Joe. “Even back then, the company was way ahead in terms of energy efficiency, renewables and the use of healthy materials.”
As one of Germany’s first companies to produce off-site manufactured timber houses, Baufritz combines advanced modular construction, sustainable materials, and renewable sources of energy to create tailor-made eco-friendly homes. The company’s unique building system ensures that all materials are natural, healthy and environmentally friendly —including the water-based paints.
A UNIQUE DESIGN
For the first time, Baufritz worked with an external architect (UK practice McClean Quinlan) on the Lockes’ design, which combines traditional elements with contemporary technology.
The house comprises three distinct, linked structures with pitched roofs: a single-storey barn with a vaulted ceiling; a three-storey bedroom wing, with five double bedrooms, a games room, gym and plant/utilities; and a one-and-a-halfstorey quadruple garage and playroom with storage in the loft.
The three structures are linked by an entrance hall with a study in the roof space above. Full-length windows open onto an outdoor area with a swimming pool located to the rear of the house. The grounds also include a fenced tennis court, a small pond, private woodland and even a dedicated pottery studio.
“Our architects’ design was adapted to the Baufritz system, with the timber building then manufactured in Germany, before being transported to be reassembled on site,” says Sally. “The entire shell only took 10 days to install. One of the huge benefits of building in this way means that everything pieces together perfectly. We alway
