Vicki Ramsden spoke to Ric Frankland, the creator of the shed at the bottom of the garden of the Eastlands Homes towers, that is in fact a new concept of eco-building. [Interview conducted in February – the delay in posting it is entirely the fault* of MCFly co-editor Arwa Aburawa, who has been punished by being demoted from MCFly to Al-Jazeera.]

What is dwelle about?
A straight forward enough question but one when asked, Ric didn’t quite know where to begin. Because for architect Ric, he has come to realise that dwelle (or more precisely the “dwelle.ings”) are actually a product, and that he’s no longer offering just an architectural service. It’s also a way of life. Ric explains that there are so many different but interconnected aspects to dwelle that the ‘elevator pitch’ to describe what it’s all about, still eludes him.
As an architect with an interest in sustainability and a commitment to well-functioning building designs, Ric wanted to create something that was developed to a high quality but that incorporated excellent eco-friendly criteria. Ric shared with me his frustration with the building sector, the design process and the nature of the work that so often means there is not sufficient time to spend on one project to produce well detailed building designs. Also, with his keen interest in global environmental challenges, he believes that all new developments should incorporate much more environmental criteria as standard.

As the design for the eco-building developed, Ric has created a template that started initially as a house, but can be adapted for a wide range of uses such as small offices, classrooms or holiday homes.

photo by Lorna Ruskin

When did you start / how long has the project been running?
The concept was developed almost 4 years ago, although it is only now that the first fully working prototype has been erected. Ric first exhibited the building design at Grand Designs Live in 2009 and it was the overwhelming positive response from the exhibit that gave him the confidence to persevere to develop the design. Through the process, Ric came to realise that he was no longer offering a traditional architectural service but a concept for living and a product.
Following the success of Grand Designs Live, Ric explained how the opportunity arose to exhibit the first fully working prototype at Greenbuild EXPO 2011 in Manchester. It is this prototype that can now been seen at its new home opposite Platt Fields Park, outside Eastlands Homes’ Platt Court on Wilmslow Road.

What’s been your biggest challenge – associated with dwelle?
Ric talks frankly about the struggles of working alone through a recession that has hit the building sector hard without being able to secure funds and therefore working on an extremely limited budget. Ric explains how the evolution of the concept led to a case of ‘catch 22’. Initially, what mystified Ric following all the positive feedback, was why he wasn’t receiving actual orders. As an architect, when you work on a project, you’re never able to show the end result until the project is complete. Ric came to realise that what he had created was a product, dwelle is the end result, so people expected to see it. So rather than offering an architectural service, Ric understood that he needed a way of letting people experience the concept for themselves, a bit like test driving a car, he says. So the main challenge was single-handedly and without funding getting to the point where he could show people a ‘dwelle.ing’.
But related to this was the challenge of working with a cast of other trades, and their notorious unreliability! Some of the frustrations and delays that Ric has had to contend with serve as an apt example of why he became so passionate about his creation in the first place. In his own words, like engineers building jet engines at Rolls Royce honing their craft for 30-40 years, Ric is passionate about traditional crafts; traditional skills which create products that are built to last.

What is your biggest achievement so far,related to dwelle)?
Given the challenges, the achievements could be listed as many but Ric simply says his biggest achievement is the building itself, built on a shoestring. And here it is. There to experience. There to marvel. And playing host to this interview!

And what next?
Finally having the first eco-home established and fully functioning, the ball is starting to roll. Ric is in dialogue with a company with the potential to order a quantity of buildings to be used as holiday homes. This leads Ric to his next challenge – of meeting the order!
Ric explains to me this challenge of meeting the order and trying to keep costs down whilst remaining resolute that there will be no compromise on the eco-credentials and the quality of the buildings. And true to his character, Ric has been able to sponsor a PhD student having eventually secured funding from the Centre for Global Eco-innovation
http://www.cgeinnovation.org/ supported by Lancaster University and the University of Liverpool. Ruth will assist in developing the design to maximise its environmental characteristics.

Ric goes on to clarify that the building will always have certain eco credentials as standard such as being air tight with extremely high insulation, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and a careful selection of sustainable materials. He wishes to incorporate others features such as solar PV panels and rain water harvesting in the standard specification.

If there could be involvement from others – who would they be and what would they do?
Always having a vision and looking ahead Ric responds that he’d like to develop the website and to build the business but both these require funding which just isn’t available currently. The big nut to crack as Ric has discovered now that people can visit the prototype, is the challenge around land availability and planning. The overwhelming response from visitors to the prototype is that people would love to dwell in a dwelle.ing. The homes cost around £75k, are mortgagable and are designed to meet building regulations; having a minimum lifespan of 60 years. But land availability which is linked with planning remains a hurdle to overcome.

Characteristically of Ric, he recognises that all of this has only come about from the support of different suppliers providing the components and materials free of charge. He didn’t want the opportunity to talk about dwelle without having the chance of directing readers to details of others without whose contributions, dwelle would not be possible, so for further information, please do visit:
http://www.dwelle..co.uk/dwelle._demonstration_project.pdf

* Actual facts may vary. Always read the label.