Rob and Alida not only wanted to build their new house from scratch, they wanted to change the way they live: to be true, in their day-to-day lives, to their commitment to sustainability and protecting the environment.They found an ideal green-field plot in October 1997, in the heart of Suffolk, and received planning permission after three months' tense wait. Rob and Alida paid £45,000 for their half-acre plot and spent about £99,000 on the build. Rob hired an architect who had built his own eco house. To minimise the use of concrete, the manufacture of which is very polluting, the architect came up with a design involving a timber frame made of special beams. These beams, imported from Sweden, rest on a ring-beam of hard reclaimed wood which, in turn, is supported by concrete pillars.1. Architecture, Domestic - Environmental aspects ; 2. Houses - Environmental aspects ; 3. Houses - Design and construction; 4 Building - Environmental aspects .