Great design or Laa-Laa Land? (From Malvern Gazette)

Great design or Laa-Laa Land?

9:58am Monday 6th November 2006

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A DEVELOPMENT of unique eco-friendly Earth-homes could be built in West Malvern, the first of their kind in Britain.

The four luxury cave-like homes would be built into the hillside and landscaped with grass and plants, creating a terraced garden effect.

A planning application has been submitted to Malvern Hills District Council by Wilden Developments.

The site in West Malvern Road, near Old Hollow, already has planning permission for two conventional homes but the West Midlands developers had heard about the Swiss-designed Earth homes and, after visiting some in Switzerland, decided they were ideal for West Malvern.

"They are fantastic homes. They are built in a curvilinear style so all the rooms, walls and ceilings are curved. They feel relaxing and cave-like," explained Mark Hingley, who hopes to build more Earth homes in the UK if the development is successful.

The two three-bedroom and two four-bedroom homes take full advantage of the views from West Malvern Road.

They will be virtually invisible from certain angles, being terraced and built right into the hillside with only the rounded doors, windows and garaging showing.

The Swiss architect Peter Vetch has designed similar curvilinear homes in Europe but these will be the first eco-friendly homes of this type in this country. Their eco credentials include their insulation, triple-glazed windows and a geothermal heating system.

Mr Hingley, who was at Malvern's Homes 4 Now exhibition last month, said there had been a lot of interest in the Earth homes.

The application is due to be considered by MHDC's planning department later this month. Anyone wishing to comment should contact the council before November 16.

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