Let's get the conversation started
Open: 09:00 – 17:00
Let's get the conversation started
Open: 09:00 – 17:00
An eco home isn’t defined by a single product — it’s the result of a fabric-first approach that makes energy demand small, comfort reliable and maintenance straightforward.
Chisel to Wood designs and builds low-energy timber eco homes and off-grid buildings across London and Cambridge, aligning airtightness, insulation, glazing and detailing before we add renewables.
The outcome is a building that feels calm, costs less to run and stays resilient over time — with natural materials you’ll enjoy living with.
We favour timber structures, responsibly sourced claddings, and finishes with low VOC content.
Interiors are designed for daylight, acoustic calm and tactile simplicity.
We’ll suggest linings and floorings that wear gracefully and can be renewed, not binned — alongside joinery that keeps surfaces clea
In dense urban locations, the challenge is privacy, daylight and neighbourly construction.
We tailor sections and openings to avoid overlooking, use acoustic upgrades where needed, and plan deliveries and waste removal for minimum disturbance.
We’re experienced with conservation areas and design codes that reward thoughtful massing and material selection.
In and around Cambridge — from the city to villages like Histon, Girton, Trumpington and Shelford — clients often prioritise operational performance and a quiet architectural language.
We’ll tune the envelope to your target (from sensible low energy to ultra-low), specify appropriate renewables, and design simple details that make maintenance a non-issue.
Ultra-low energy targets cost more up front; sensible low-energy specs offer excellent returns without complexity.
We’ll present tiered specifications so you can see the price-to-benefit curve clearly — including running-cost projections.
Our aim is to keep things simple to use and easy to maintain, avoiding gadgetry you’ll tire of.
Eaves, sills, thresholds and ground interfaces are detailed to shed water, protect finishes and allow renewal.
Ventilated cavities and replaceable wear layers make maintenance predictable.
We avoid hidden reliance on sealants; where we use them, we do so with access in mind.
Eco homes often sit in planning contexts that welcome low energy and simple massing, but each site is unique.
We’ll advise on permitted routes, coordinate consultants as needed, and prepare documents that explain the performance logic in plain terms.
Where Building Regulations apply (most eco homes and annexes), we design from the outset for compliance without contortions.
We’ll give you a fixed quote after survey and a coordinated specification, with clear alternates if you want to dial elements up or down.
London: Richmond, Wimbledon, Hampstead, Islington, Camden, Hammersmith & Fulham, Chelsea, Chiswick and more.
Cambridge & villages: Cambridge city, Histon, Girton, Trumpington, Shelford, Sawston and surrounds. Close by? Ask — we’re flexible.
Yes — we’ll align design and site method to your goal and bring in testing or modelling as needed.
Full autonomy is rare in dense urban plots, but low-grid (PV + battery + water measures) is practical and worthwhile.
That’s the point. We specify legible controls and produce a simple handover guide so you feel in command.
Yes — desks, shelves, benches and hidden storage are common and transform everyday usability.
If you’re exploring an eco home or off-grid building in London or Cambridge, let’s review feasibility together.
Share your aims and any site notes and we’ll come back with concept options and a performance-led outline.
