Connect with us
Ecococon is an international company producing modular straw homes across three continents. Pictured above are Paul Lynch, Ecococon Representative for Ireland and Doug Hyde. Satmya. Picture: Krzysztof Luszczki/ilovelimerick Ecococon is an international company producing modular straw homes across three continents. Pictured above are Paul Lynch, Ecococon Representative for Ireland and Doug Hyde. Satmya. Picture: Krzysztof Luszczki/ilovelimerick

community

WATCH Limerick’s Paul Lynch builds first Ecococon straw home in Ireland

Published

on

Ecococon is an international company producing modular straw homes across three continents. Pictured above are Paul Lynch, Ecococon Representative for Ireland and Doug Hyde. Satmya. Picture: Krzysztof Luszczki/ilovelimerick

WATCH Limerick’s Paul Lynch builds first Ecococon straw home in Ireland 

By I Love Limerick correspondent Rachel Petticrew


advertisement




advertisement




advertisement




advertisement




advertisement



Ecococon "With Ecococon, we can have an energy-saving house built with totally sustainable materials that will, at the end of its life, go back into the earth," says Mr Lynch.  Picture: Krzysztof Luszczki/ilovelimerick

“With Ecococon, we can have an energy-saving house built with totally sustainable materials that will, at the end of its life, go back into the earth,” says Mr Lynch.
Picture: Krzysztof Luszczki/ilovelimerick

Satmya, a natural living and learning centre in Feakle, County Clare, is in the process of moving to a remarkable new home, thanks to Limerick-born, Finland-claimed sustainable builder Paul Lynch.

Satmya founders, Doug and Yvette Hyde, have been renting a premises since setting up shop in 2007.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the couple decided the time was right to build their own centre – one that reflected the planet-friendly ethos of their Ayurveda natural medicine business.

While inquiring about natural building methods, the Hyde’s came into contact with Paul Lynch, who has been producing environmentally-friendly homes in Scandanavia for over 18 years.

As well as running SustainaBuild Oy, a successful sustainable construction and consultation business in Finland, Paul also works with Ecococon, an international company producing modular straw homes across three continents.

Modular building is a relatively new and extremely efficient construction practice, while straw as a bi-product is one of the oldest building materials on the planet.

Satmya’s new Ecococon home, the first of its kind in Ireland, consists of a very simple structure.

The straw-filled walls are in a load bearing double timber frame. The roof is of metal which is of course recyclable and foundations are built on top of a recycled, natural glass called GeoCell. Crucially, the structure’s energy performance is passive house and therefore also highly efficient.

This pioneering construction method is not just kind to the earth, it is also cost-effective and an extremely fast process. The Feakle centre was erected and fully watertight in just six days.

“With Ecococon, we can have an energy-saving house built with totally sustainable materials that will, at the end of its life, go back into the earth,” says Mr Lynch.

Ecococon’s cutting-edge yet incredibly simple technology has been used to construct everything from bungalows to apartment blocks, schools & daycares and even a hospital wing, since the company’s formation in 2008.

“It’s a pleasure to now have the first Ecococon building here in Ireland,” says Mr Lynch.

“As Feakle is just outside my home of Limerick on the Clare border, it was a pleasure to work with the team here. Now, we aim to get the momentum going and build more quality, beautiful and healthy homes in this country.”

Satmya owner Doug Hyde says of his new building, “Our business is unique in what it offers, and the new building is also going to be unique – the first natural, ecological and passive house in the country.

“We are really looking forward to welcoming our customers here in 2022, to experience this new centre and the new environment that we have created.”

To learn more about Ecococon, go HERE 

To learn more about Satmya, Feakle, go HERE 

For more environmental stories, go HERE

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.