The Martin House, so named after the owners and the bird, is located in the Riverstone Retreat Centre, outside the tranquil town of Durham, Ontario.

2007's workshops in straw/clay helped to construct this truly unique building. This showcase home is a timber framed, straw/clay, earth plastered marvel! The Martin house was a collaborative project between Econest and Local Builders to utilize and implement local natural materials in the construction of a timber framed straw-clay home.

85% of the materials in this home were derived from within 40 kilometres of the site. Of that 85%, a further 80% of the materials used were directly from the property on which this home is located!

Some of the features of the Martin Home include:

• Durisol brand wood insulated concrete forms (made of 78% recycled content).
• White cedar sill plates.
• Straw and clay exterior walls - these differ from straw bale in that all of the fibres are coated with a clay “slip”
• White ash timber frame with cherry and elm accents. This timber frame is a one-of-a-kind and utilizes curved material unimaginable to most framers!
• Local “marl” earthen plasters.
• Masonry heater with pizza bake oven (the most efficient and least polluting way to heat with wood)
• Constructed wetlands tertiary treatment system septic design
• Reclaimed hardwood floors
• Natural finishes
• Hypo Allergenic whirlpool air jet spa
• Iceynene water accelerated insulation in the roof
• Wattle and daub interior partitions
• Silicate mineral paints
• Ledge-rock stone elements

For a detailed information list of the elements in this building, click here>>

This home will be available to rent by the night, weekend, or week and is set on a scenic beautiful property on the Saugeen River. There are plenty of camping and other accommodations on the property as well.

Contact Ernie & Edith Martin at Riverstone:
519.369.3447