Inspiration for a small timber house in the middle of the forest

Eco-friendly buildings generally enjoy less trust than houses made of brick. But believe us, if you own a plot in the middle of a forest, a small timber house will definitely pay off. Such a building is like any other house, with a basic raw material hidden in its structure, and that material is wood. You may not believe it, but there are plenty of buildings around us that look as if they are made of brick but are in fact made of wood.

A small timber house lasts for ages

The oldest timber building is probably the Japanese Buddhist temple Hōryū-ji. It is a five-storey wooden pagoda. However, you will also find real gems in Europe, for example in the scenery of the Swiss Alps.

Various types of timber buildings can be found all over Europe.

That is why prefabricated timber houses appeal to more and more people. Wood is a sustainable building material in the long term, and, let’s face it, construction is also remarkably fast. Don’t be put off by the myth that a timber house will soon fall down. If your small timber house is built properly, it will last you a hundred years.

Contrary to what we might imagine, modern timber houses do not simply catch fire on their own. There is a big difference between plain untreated wood and modern sandwich panels clad with gypsum fibreboards or other non-combustible materials. The panel cladding not only prevents ignition but also eliminates moisture. Moreover, thanks to technologies such as heat recovery ventilation, mould will not settle in a timber house.

Sound insulation

In most cases, today’s modern timber houses also have soundproofed ceilings so that residents are not disturbed by noise, such as chairs being moved or footsteps. The same applies to the external walls, so timber houses are a match for traditional brick houses when it comes to sound insulation.

A green roof on your house

A small timber house is ideal for building a green roof. You may be surprised, but it has many benefits that you will appreciate especially on summer days: green roofs protect against overheating, retain water and extend the usable space. What more could you want? Try, for example, a lightweight mineral wool substrate with a green carpet of hardy, low-maintenance sedums. These plants can withstand any bad weather. In addition, green roofs also capture water, so all you need to do is build a tank.   

Small timber houses are great, and they are also another way of looking after your mental wellbeing. If you own a plot in an allotment colony or even an ordinary plot of land, you will certainly appreciate their advantages. You can then decorate the interior however you like, for example in Provençal style or in a farmhouse style of living.