BALCONY
The house features a west- facing balcony that’s reached through patio doors and supplies a vantage point to watch sunsets
over plastic sheeting and membrane incorporated into garden structures like a bin store and raised beds.
During construction, which began in the summer of 2018, Joan lived in nearby rented accommodation so she could be on site most days for at least 30 minutes to an hour: “You’ve got to be there to make sure things are happening and costs don’t get away from you. I always had a finite budget,” she says. While the majority of the project managing was dealt with by her contractors, plus Ian and Susie at Mole, Joan did “do a bit” herself, including buying the windows and kitchen, organising the electricity and telephone/internet connections and arranging the scaffolding and welfare unit for the timber frame installation. She explains: “As a primary head I’d had some
big projects to deal with at schools – replacement windows and heating – so I’m used to dealing with build projects to some extent. As a head I was also used to managing people, whether it be teachers, cleaners or catering staff, and you learn how to get the best out of them.” Not content with a house that looks so
different, she’s also decided to give it an unusual name – Wuduhus: “It’s wooden house in Anglo Saxon. A friend’s son is at Cambridge University and his friend is doing a PhD in ancient languages – he gave me the word.” But being prepared to be different doesn’t mean Joan’s kept apart from the community where she’s made her new home. Far from it, she’s immersed herself in that community straight away, becoming a governor of a local
february/march 2020
“I saw how new technology and design innovation could reduce the need for fossil fuels, while allowing for modern design and creativity, and this interested me hugely.”
primary school and getting involved in nature conservation projects. She’s also a regular visitor at a nearby gym.
On top of the price she paid for the land, the final cost of construction for Joan, including professional fees, was about £400,000. Funded by the sale of her former home in Reading and some savings, she’s now mortgage-free. She’s delighted with what she’s achieved: “I feel really content and happy that everything’s working well, and I’m now looking forward to putting the finishing touches to my garden.”
www.sbhonline.co.uk 43
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