Choosing Materials
Materials
At Hawkes Architecture, we prioritise the use of sustainable, locally sourced materials that reduce environmental impact and enhance building performance. From natural insulation to low-carbon timber and reclaimed finishes, every material is chosen for its durability, beauty, and efficiency. Our approach supports low embodied energy, promotes circular design, and ensures each home sits lightly in its landscape.
At Hawkes Architecture, we prioritise the use of sustainable, locally sourced materials that reduce environmental impact and enhance building performance. From natural insulation to low-carbon timber and reclaimed finishes, every material is chosen for its durability, beauty, and efficiency. Our approach supports low embodied energy, promotes circular design, and ensures each home sits lightly in its landscape.
Sustainable material options
Many building products are made from finite resources and two examples of this are sand and insulation. We believe buildings should use recycled materials where possible and specify both Ecosand and Cellulose as viable alternatives.
Ecosand is made from recycled glass bottles and is a perfect sharp sand substitute. It doesn’t use a virgin natural resource and makes use of a large volume bi-product of every day life.
Cellulose insulation is made from recycled newspapers and magazines. It gets mixed with Borax to provide, fire resistance and protection from vermin, has excellent U-values and is a brilliant use of a waste material in plentiful supply.
Local Material Palette
At Hawkes Architecture, sustainability starts with the materials we choose. We prioritise local, responsibly sourced materials to reduce transport emissions, lower embodied carbon, and support a circular, low-impact design process. From regionally sourced timber and reclaimed brick to natural insulation and lime-based finishes, every choice is made to minimise environmental impact while creating buildings that feel genuinely connected to place.
‘Echo Barn’ is an example of a rigorously low‑carbon family home defined by its timber‑frame construction using sustainably sourced engineered wood. The wall and roof cavities are packed with recycled newspaper insulation, blended with boron to ensure fire safety and pest resistance. This hygroscopic insulation helps naturally regulate humidity and enhances indoor air quality while reducing embodied energy. The timber frame was precision‑modelled in 3D for airtightness and efficient assembly.
To read more about our local material choices in practice, go to the page below!
On site
Reduce materials & waste
Why use more materials than is required to do the job? Whilst it is right to be seeking to use materials with a low embodied energy footprint it is also responsible to use materials sparingly. We dislike the notion of using extensive quantities of timber. For instance when using CLT (Cross Laminated Timber) and celebrating how much CO2 is being locked into the building without questioning the face that you’re using 10 times more timber than was necessary.
Why use more materials than is required to do the job? Whilst it is right to be seeking to use materials with a low embodied energy footprint it is also responsible to use materials sparingly. We dislike the notion of using extensive quantities of timber. For instance when using CLT (Cross Laminated Timber) and celebrating how much CO2 is being locked into the building without questioning the face that you’re using 10 times more timber than was necessary.