Why it is special
The Comfort-Haus is simple but very adaptable. It can be a four-bedroom family home or include home/work space or even a self-contained granny flat. It is warm, without space-heating devices. Other innovations include a sprinkler system that frees up space which would otherwise be taken up by fire-safety building requirements.

How it is built
The foundations use ground granulated blast-furnace slag cement, a recycled product that reduces carbon emissions from concrete by 70 per cent. Cross-laminated timber panels – from small sections of sustainably grown timber – form the exterior shell, leaving large open spaces within that can be divided.

Eco features
Wood construction, triple-glazed windows, thick Pavatherm insulation (fibreboard without wood preservatives or glue), breathable wood stains on the exterior, cement foundation made from the recycled by-product of steelmaking, heat-recovery ventilation system, low-voltage lighting, photovoltaic roof tiles (generating ‘in-house’ electricity), solar panel for water heating, rainwater harvesting system.

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