The 4 bedroom house in North Dorset is built to reduce energy consumption (at completion calculated to be better than a 50% reduction on the then current Building Regulations) and be more sustainably constructed than the normal current practice. The clients requested a feature internal oak frame which is provided and acts as a hybrid structure with a timber panel system. The timber frame elements received a “Build It” Award for “Best Use of Timber Frame” developed from the practice's original design and concept. Whilst for structural reasons (part retaining wall) the base of the walls are constructed in conventional, but with wider insulated cavity, brick and blockwork, the walls over use an insulated timber frame panel system with external wood fibre insulation board finished in a lime based render system. The roof of natural slates sits over wood fibre insulation and deeper than normal rafters allowing a greater thickness of insulation. Windows are triple glazed to the north and high performance double glazed elsewhere. The house has a high level of airtightness and of vapour permeability.