It's like being in Greece or India

But Nicholas Worsley decided to take things one step further with his dream home - he fulfilled a lifelong ambition when he created the award-winning, eco-friendly Cobtun, in Northwick Close, Barbourne, Worcester.

Since the age of 16, Mr Worsley, now 60, has longed to have his own specially-designed, green home.

And with features such as tubes on the roof which store the sun's power for use in the home, "Cobtun" is certainly that.

"I'm very proud of the building. It's exactly what I wanted," said Mr Worsley, who is chairman of the Huntingdon Hall trust.

"A lot of things a lot more exciting then I thought they would be. The cob wall is absolutely fantastic. The sensation of coming around there is like being in Greece or India."

The building, which was completed six months ago and this week won Worcester City Council's annual building design award, is the last thing you expect to see at the end of his street.

In contrast to the typical lush green lawns, beautifully painted facades and privet hedges, Cobtun is a wooden building with sharp, jutting angles and massive windows.

"I think my neighbours believe I'm completely mad, but they're a very charming bunch. They keep very discreet about the house," said Mr Worsley, a retired lawyer.

Fascinated

While he didn't draw up the final blueprint for Cobtun, Mr Worsley admits he was "rather involved" with the entire planning stage.

"It's always been my aim to build my own home, I've been wanting to do it since I was 16.

"I wasn't an architect but I was busy trying to design houses when I was at school.

"I've always been fascinated by design - not just houses but furniture as well."

As the former chairman of Worcester Civic Society admits, the scheme is not cheap - excluding the land, the build cost around £300,000 - but, he said, there are longer term economic benefits.

This year, his gas usage had been reduced to nothing because of his solar heating while, his water use has been reduced by 50 per cent.

As well as helping his bank balance, Mr Worsley is hoping the home and this week's win will inspire other home builders to go green and help the environment.

"I like the concept of encouraging people who are looking to build a new house to do something organic.

"If enough people do it, firstly the cost of the materials will go down and then the impact on the environment will be more positive."

'A most exciting and significant building'

JUDGES for the Worcester City Award 2003, including The Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Gareth Jones, the Dean of Worcester, the Very Rev Peter Marshall, and chairman of the Worcester Civic Society, Chris Shaw, praised Cobtun in their assessors report.

"In overall terms, Cobtun is an outstanding work of modern architecture capable of becoming a future building of wider significance," they wrote.

"It is a most exciting and significant building for Worcester which exhibits a comprehensive commitment to the principles of sustainability,"

"The setting is picturesque and the building has been designed to incorporate many features to minimise its visual and physical impact on the landscape."

Why not invest in...

WANT an award-winning eco-friendly home? Why not invest in...

n A timber frame building filled with old newspaper "It's highly effective," said Mr Worsley.

n Doors made out of recycled aluminium cans.

n Shelves made from recycled bottles.

n Solar tubes, similar to solar panels, that store the sun's heat and warms the house's water.

n Using old Christmas trees along the driveway of your home.

n Huge windows that allow the home to be flooded by sunlight and concrete floors that store its heat. "Even in the middle of winter the floor gets very hot. You come out in bear foot and its great," revealed Mr Worsley.

n A water tank that stores rainwater to be used during flushing toilets and for clothes washing. "If you're washing dirty clothes you don't need particularly clean water."

An organic garden, watered using the rainwater store.