I kinda need to visit that area to see how houses are constructed there. 🤔
Discussion
You'll see a good blend of traditional alpine and modern architecture and construction. Some modern made to look traditional. Some traditional and very modern inside.
I'm mostly interested in traditional. My goal is to build a house that will last 250+ years. That's not possible, as far as I can see, with modern construction that far too heavily relies on materials that cannot last that long with minimal maintenance or being wastefully produced in a factory halfway around the world. Yes, what I build may not be as "efficient" but I truly think it will be healthier and cozier and easier to live in than most.
Make a stone house then...
Not exactly. Stone Foundation, yes, very likely. But I'm very interested in using hempcrete for walls on a traditional timberframe structure.
Not sure if this can stand more than 250 years...
The frame of the house can, and hempcrete can easily be grown and repaired if necessary since it is literally lime, water, and hemp stalks cut to a short length after the fibers are extracted. It is much more insulating that stone, and acts to dampen sound and regulate humidity better than stone.
Yeah, same reason we're going with strawbale + limeplaster for our family house build this year.
30cm brick "foundation" wall with a timber frame on top. Slate roof.
Dang. That's interesting.
Slate roofing is ideal, but may need to be done at a later date. Can you source enough easily?
:90percent: of houses have slate where we live 👉 Bretagne, FR
Ah, that makes sense. There's a LOT of slate roofs here in New England (the NE of the US), but it is falling out of favor since it is so expensive.
So few repairmen have any idea how to walk on them without cracking them. Such a shame, as they are such a gorgeous roof.
Yeah, same here.
But we're trying not to compromise on Beauty.
House size, strawbales, lime, DIY lego style construction plans, etc... make up for our slate roof, arched windows and detailed finishes.
We have mostly two types: slates and folded metal sheets. the later is almost indestructible. i know of buildings in my surrounding with this roof tops in place for more then 80 years and it's still like new.
my own is not even folded and it's 40 years old.
You just need to paint it every 15 years or something if you want good looks.
Yes it is more insulating than stone etc, i agree. I like all that you say.
But... i guess you will not find that strange, not far from where i am, there is a part of a construction, made of stone, that is 3000 years old or so and is still standing. So when you said "something that lasts 250+ years", i could not avoid thinking of stone 😀
There is an old barn house in town turned restaurant that was built in 1658 that is largely still original. Though it has been renovated and expanded, it still stands. The walls are very thick.