Citu is one of the companies leading the Eco Housing Revolution in the UK.

The Scandi-inspired homes in the award-winning Climate Innovation District of Leeds are built from wood, are airtight and are finished with earthy, natural materials including Clayworks Clay Plasters, due to their low carbon, health and insulating performance credentials. These eco-homes are now the hallmarks of natural, healthy homes and increasingly the standard for beautiful, contemporary living spaces.

These terrace houses are made from super-airtight timber panels stuffed full of wood-fibre andrecycled glass wool insulation, with triple-glazed windows and solar panels on the roof. Each is erected in less than a week. Using up to 10 times less energy than a conventional house due to the super insulation, their heating demand is so low that they create excess electricity that is fed into a community grid and used to charge shared electric cars.

Built for our time

Design features include huge triple glazed windows and light wells flood large, open plan spaces with natural light.

Sleek and modern and finished to a rigorous specification, the houses feature the clean lines typical of Scandinavian design, bamboo floors, clay plastered walls and high ceilings to create bright, warm and inviting spaces.

In the next 30 years, the global building stock is expected almost to double and every kilo of carbon in every building material, in every new or retrofitted building counts. The UK Government has developed a future homes standard that will mandate all new homes to be zero-carbon ready. Carbon emissions occur at every stage of the sourcing, extracting, processing, transporting, assembling and disposing of materials. Clayworks Clay Plasters have the lowest amount of embedded carbon due to minimal processing, no additives or waste, and compostability.

Source: John Butler Sustainable Build Consultancy

Avoiding indoor toxins and pollution is always important, and particularly so in super airtight homes. According to the World Health Organisation, 50% of pneumonia deaths in children under 5 are linked to indoor air pollution and the cocktails of chemicals in most building products can lead to many chronic diseases with long term exposure. Clayworks Clay Plasters are 100% pure, natural materials with no toxins, VOCs, formaldehyde, polymers or additives. They remain a raw material when on the walls; that is, they don’t ‘set’ like other finishes. Consequently, pure clay plasters consistently absorb and release moisture in the air maintaining indoor air humidity at between 40 – 60%. This is the optimum level for occupant health because bacteria, viruses, dust mites, and mould spores struggle to survive within this zone. The above are all primary triggers for respiratory health issues.

Citu’s award-winning Climate Innovation District, which sits by the river on the edge of Leeds city centre will be the UK’s biggest sustainable urban development and Clayworks are delighted to be included in this inspirational project.

For further pictures please see our Case Study feature.

Updated January 2022.