Re-wilding of 'an Speir', 3acres of land, with a Passive House, in County Kikenny

On this last day of January 2019,

 I am making the first blog entry of the documentation of a decade long project :

The Re-Wilding of 'an Speir'

We are taking part in 'We are the Ark Project' Project of re-wilding Ireland

www.wearetheark.org

 by

Mary Reynolds : Nature Activist and Reformed Landscaper

www.marymary.ie

Artwork by Ruth Evans Art

An Speir - Mid-Summer and Mid-Winter - West Elevation 2018

Walled Garden | Mid-Summer and Mid-Winter 2018

House lit up!

Details : Windows and Window Openings

First Mock up for the windows

Setting up for the Slate reveals - Sills

Setting up for Slate reveals - head

First Floor Posi-Joists

Posi-joists combine the lightness of timber with the strength of web steel. Services can be run through the web zone.

Posi Joist Hanger fixed to timber packer in steel  I-beam for stair void

Air tightness membrane placed behind the hanger and wrapped around the hanger where it sits on the inner wall

View from the Kitchen back to the Glazed Link

View from the Utility Room back to the Old Farmstead

Update of the Project

Original Planning Sketch

Jennie Castle

Passive House 

Building Energy Rating 'A'

Water borehole installed

150m Geo-thermal borehole installed as heating source for the underfloor heating

Sub-structure services installed- electrical conduits, sewerage

Structure : foundations, rising walls, sub-floor, external and internal walls, structural steel beams

and Posi-floor joists to main house installed.

Main house ready for the next level up!

Precast slabs for the garage scheduled for 10days time together with 

external precast stairs for the pedestrian entrance and the walled garden

Up go the insulated block walls .....

Internal walls laid out and sub-slab reinforcement ready for the great pour...

Slab will be stopped at either side of the main service channel through the garage

Concrete pad for the steel base plate for the staircase

Sub Structure Services

GEOTHERMAL & RADON LAYOUT

Geothermal Borehole : 150m in depth

WATER SUPPLY from well

SEWERAGE & STORMWATER LAYOUT

ELECTRICAL LAYOUT

Reference Ground Floor Plan

Rising Blockwork Started

The rising blockwork from the foundation to the top of screed level started

365mm insulated block wall construction

200mm of compacted hardcore

Ground Floor Plan