Owner(s): Henry and Joanna Wiersma
Region: Peterborough
Municipality: Hamilton Township
Email: fifthwinds@gmail.com

Number of bedrooms: 1
Number of bathrooms: 1
Building footprint, square feet: 680 sf
Occupancy date: Fall 2012

Main contractor name: Henry Wiersma
Designer's name: Henry Wiersma
Structural engineer's firm: Blackwell Bowick Inc.
Length of time to build (start to occupancy): Four Years
Ease of obtaining a building permit: Very easy

Other roofing material info: Roof is a cathedral ceiling using foam board for insulation

Other bale wall style info: Bales are attached to the exterior of the compressed earth block walls
Mechanical systems info: radiant in-floor heating
Electrical systems info: armoured cable wiring
Anything else you'd like to share?: Henry Wiersma, a former custom home builder, is pioneering Compressed Earth Block (Adobe) technology, using clay from his farm to manufacture earth blocks on-site. He has created a house, the first prototype in Canada, built with sacred geometry principles, using earth blocks for the structure and straw bales on the exterior as insulation. Come and view the stunning compressed earth block floor. Visitors will be able to view the equipment used to manufacture the blocks and see different examples of floor finishings. The interior of the building also features a creative use of recycled wood making for a dramatic cathedral space.