“We started at the front doing one side. From the back to front there are five complete beams,” says Gladman. “We trained the lads in the morning and erected the whole frame in seven days. The simple single connection system made it easy.”

He chose timber over a steel frame because steel is much less sustainable in its manufacture and glulam has a similar strength to steel but is lighter and easier to assemble. With the frame up, the walls, constructed from Masonite beams (as are the floors and roof), were next and, by the 10th day of the build, they were all in place.

The walls are 250mm deep and, for insulation, are completely filled with Warmcel recycled newspaper. “We drilled holes in the outside panelling, so we could then plasterboard the inside and have the Warmcel blown in from the outside,” says Gladman. “They are breathing walls; they allow moisture to travel out so you don’t get condensation in the house.”

The roof beams clipped onto the roof and were then screwed down. “One side could be done in a day and, in fact, the roof only took three days to go up,” he says.

After the roof-frame was up, slate was fixed over. Internal guttering was clipped in to increase the speed of construction and to give clean lines. The guttering system runs all the rain water to the back of the house, to collect in the waste water pond at the back. Three flat-panel solar collectors were then fitted on the south-facing elevation; solar power provides them with 80% of their hot water.

“We use only electricity in the house. No gas and no boilers,” says Gladman, who is trying to get the build accredited as a modern method of construction to comply with the Housing Corporation’s definition and classification. “The house has zero CO2 emissions and very low energy consumption that exceeds all the government criteria.”

The exterior is clad in oak in front and oak and aluminium in the back. From both north and south elevations, the frame encases huge swathes of double-glazed windows, which shower the interior with light.

Gladman and Medhurst have given as much thought to the interior design as they have to the build. “Even though it’s a designer house, it still has to be practical and work as a family home,” says Medhurst. “When it came to choosing interior finishes, we knew exactly what we wanted.

“We went for limestone, slate and natural materials where available. We wanted simple colours and didn’t want to mix too much.” All the fixture and fittings, with the exception of the granite work surface on the island unit, are from regular retailers such as Ikea and B&Q.

“I love this kitchen/dining area,” says Medhurst. “It is the heart of the building.” The entire ground floor is heated by an electric underfloor system. Combined with the insulation this means even in a house with so much glass, there is no need for radiators, fires or electric heaters.

“We went for thin electric cable mat which lays right over the chipboard with tiles or wood on top and heat goes right into each room,” says Gladman.

The first floor, which has five bedrooms and three bathrooms, has no heating, yet even in the depths of a British winter it’s as warm as a traditionally heated home.

“It’s a great family home,” says Medhurst. “In this country, we tend to use doors too much and shut ourselves out but this is so lovely and open. It is very homely.”

WHAT IT COST

Land:£250,000
Glulam frame: £60,000
Masonite beams: £13,000
Warmcel insulation: £5,000
Underfloor heating: £3,100
Solar system: £3,500
Joinery: £20,000
Glazing: £6,500
Total cost: £550,000

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