Ep 6. Home Grown House

Home Grown House is the sixth episode of season 1 of the show Impossible Builds. In this episode, we follow the journey of a couple in the UK who want to build their dream home, but they have a rather unique requirement: all the materials used in the house must be sourced locally. To make it even more challenging, the couple's budget is tight, and they need to incorporate eco-friendly features to reduce their carbon footprint.

To help them achieve this dream, the couple enlists the help of architect Richard Hawkes, who is known for his eco-friendly designs. Richard and his team begin with thorough research of the local area to see what the available materials are. They soon discover that the region they are in is rich in clay, and they begin to experiment with different ways of using it in the construction of the house.

The first challenge they face is to figure out how to use the clay as the main building material without any added cement or concrete. They experiment with different mixes of clay, straw, and sand and finally come up with a mixture that holds together and is strong enough to build the walls of the house. The team continues to refine the mixture as they build, adding more sand to make it more stable and water-resistant.

The second challenge they face is to find local materials for the insulation of the house. After extensive research, they discover that wool is a good insulator and is readily available from local sheep farms. The team sources the wool and works with a local contractor to compress it into batts that can be used between the walls of the house.

Once the team has figured out the materials, they begin the construction of the house. They encounter many challenges, such as the need to keep the walls of the house upright while they dry and settle and the need to ensure that the house is structurally sound. They also have to figure out how to create windows and doors that fit with the natural look of the house.

As the construction progresses, the couple adds their own personal touches to the house. They build a greenhouse using old windows they found at a nearby recycling center and add a living roof that is covered in wildflowers. They also incorporate a variety of eco-friendly features, such as a rainwater harvesting system and a composting toilet.

At the end of the episode, we see the completed house, which is a stunning example of eco-friendly design and local craftsmanship. The couple is thrilled with their new home and has managed to build it within their budget while still incorporating everything they wanted. The house blends seamlessly into its natural surroundings and is a perfect example of how sustainable design can be both beautiful and practical.

In summary, Home Grown House is a fascinating episode that showcases the challenges and rewards of sourcing local materials for construction and designing a sustainable home. The episode is full of useful information for anyone interested in eco-friendly architecture and design and is a great example of what can be achieved with ingenuity and creativity.