Sustainable construction

All of our cladding timber is responsibly sourced (locally sourced, FSC or PEFC certified, or marked where possible).  We avoid using materials that have a larger carbon footprint in favour of alternative UK sources.

A longer term sustainable ambition we have fulfilled recently is to work directly with our landlord Flete Estate who has managed woodland and sells to local sawmills, such as Rattery Sawmill.  Where we have been able to facilitate this it has reduced the carbon footprint of our timber cladding to less than 20 miles.

We are committed to the reuse of materials where they are fit for purpose and can either have a neutral or positive impact on the energy efficiency of our buildings. These include specifying ex-display Rationel windows and doors and the reuse of exterior materials such as corrugated cladding, as an attractive, sustainable architectural feature.

For our cabin foundations, we generally use groundscrews instead of concrete, where possible. Cement is energy intensive to produce whereas ground screws are much less disruptive to the earth, allowing the site to be used for other purposes in the future if required.

Ground screws are suited to many locations, and don’t contribute towards a concrete legacy or threaten the root system of trees and shrubs. We particularly like that the ground screws at the end of the building’s life can simply be removed and recycled, allowing the land to be reclaimed immediately.

It is proven that not only are sustainable, well-designed buildings more durable and strong, they are also healthier and more comfortable places to live and work in.  We pride ourselves on brilliant, architectural design that is built to last.  This, in itself, is better for the environment.  Excellent, thoughtful design naturally leads to the use of carefully chosen, durable, sustainable materials. A design brief usually centres on a multi-functional use of the space and this is the cabin working to its best; for example as an office by day and an alfresco dining room by night.

Following investment in SOLIDWORKS software, this modelling computer-aided design and computer-aided engineering computer program will reduce waste, foresee problems with a design at an early stage and allow us to keep innovating what and how we design and build our spaces.

Furthermore this design software also enables us to put together sustainable construction methods in order to minimise raw material waste and create efficient modular or prefabricated structures to reduce the amount of time we are onsite and travelling, ultimately leading to a more carbon efficient, cleaner build and higher quality of finish.

We always exceed requirements when it comes to the thermal efficiency of our cabin insulation.  As standard, we aim to be market leaders in the levels of insulation we use in our spaces. It is easy to say ‘it is insulated’ but we are working to new house levels of insulation to ensure a practical and comfortable life for the users of the cabin, for years to come. This in turn means the cabin will be used more often and remain fit for purpose, long-term.

Life Space Cabins aims to keep the number of suppliers we work with to a minimum as this allows for stronger relationships, less administration and fewer deliveries. Our goal is to continue to standardise our design and construction processes in order to streamline our ordering of materials.  This means buying from fewer suppliers, in fewer deliveries. By agreeing on the specification of a cabin, well in advance, we can then place orders and receive fewer deliveries. This reduces the courier’s carbon consumption. Every small initiative helps.