plot no.11

how to build?

2012-01-06T15:31:00.000+02:00

I havent written here for quite a while.. not for the lack of activity, in fact, the opposite is true. We have been busy looking at different building methods. I havent mentioned yet but we are really, really in to the idea of building an eco home.

We started looking at steel framed houses - which claim to be ecological. This method is very common in the US but here, in Israel, it is less common and even frowned upon. Many people here like what they know - a wall made of blocks. Maybe it is thought of as more secure or maybe its a case of not wanting to change what has been done for years; probably a case of the two.

In terms of cost, it is more or less the same as conventional building but it supposedly takes half the time (around 6 months). The thermal values are very good as well as the acoustics. It is a very clean way of building, the cost of the build is known from the start and this doesnt change. People here do not like the plaster walls and prefer something more solid.

We were told yesterday that the new blocks had much better thermal values than the old ones, with or without extra insulation. Our budget for this build is quite modest but we are trying to make it good quality. It is all a little overwhelming.

our plot is in the middle of this row

Yesterday we visited the site and found they had advanced so much since we were last there. The tractors busy at work helped calm the nerves.

We are still waiting to sell our apartment and nothing can actually begin until it has been sold. But we want to use this time wisely and prepare everything that needs to be done.

More soon...

the brief

2011-08-29T16:04:00.001+03:00

After many sleepless nights (I literally lie awake at night making plans in my head) we now have a fixed idea of what we want in this house.

An open plan living area which includes the kitchen, dining and living area. This space should take advantage of the light and view.
A courtyard ( I am obsessed with the idea of having an inner courtyard; a outside living area full of plants and comfortable seating) I like the idea of discovering it as you move through the space.
4 bedrooms - including a room for each daughter and a master bedroom with connecting toilet.
A family bathroom
A studio

We still have quite a way to go until we get to the stage of drawing up plans (although I have already started). We have yet to sell our apartment and find an architect!

the beginning

2011-08-16T08:46:00.003+03:00

For quite a few years we have been looking to move. Nine years ago we moved to the suburbs from Tel Aviv, a city we loved living in but decided with our first child on the way, that we should move to a smaller "child-friendly" place. This small city grew and grew and didnt have the appeal of the "cool" city life or the small, country village. So we started searching for somewhere where there was less building work and cleaner air. Somewhere where we could have our own little patch on this earth. We would like to have space for the girls to be more free and grow some fruit and vegetables. We (I) would like my own studio to work in!!

About 18 months ago we heard of a small village which stands about 400m above sea level. We liked the feel of the place. They were going to be extending by adding another 110 plots for building on. We decided to go for it! Us, build our own house?! It has been a dream for years.

After much paper work (and a lot still to come), two weeks ago we chose our plot...number 11!!

Our Plot

The view

I am starting this blog to document and explore ideas while we build our home!