Their efforts have paid off. Three years back when Aaron and Raphaella Curtis decided to self build their house on a land rejected for being too difficult for construction, has been sold for a profit of over £625,000.
No one had thought had that time that the gamble of over £200,000 would pay off so well.
An environmentally friendly five bedroom property built on brownfield site adjacent to partially demolished viaduct was made more out of need than choice. With best use of compact space, keeping the requirement for eight children in mind, the house was tailor made to accommodate every need.
Buying land for just £60,000 in East Sussex, UK, the Curtis family used local craftsmen and materials for construction. With original Victorian foundations of the crumbled viaduct as the foundation, a four-storey building with solar panels, extra insulation, under floor heating, double glazing, a condensing gas boiler and a low-carbon footprint was constructed while keeping a close watch on even the travelling distances for materials.
The home, which also won the Norwich and Peterborough Building Society eco-house of the year award, used sweet chestnut wood available just five miles away.
Where others failed to recognize, the Curtis family saw huge potential. This was the reason why the house won the sustainability award by the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2006.
The family is now heading to a Georgian terrace in Lewes. But they are as excited as ever about green plans. As Mr Curtis explains,
“Two of the teenagers are leaving home, so we needed to down-size. But I’d still love to do it again in the future, and this time I’d make it zero carbon”.
Via: The Independent
