Rachel's in the running for Grand Designs win (From Western Telegraph)

Rachel's in the running for Grand Designs win

11:18am Friday 9th May 2008 in

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A unique and unusual straw bale house in St Dogmaels is through to the next round of a TV architecture competition.

Rachel Shiamh's straw bale house, Penwhilwr, in St Dogmaels won the best eco house category of channel 4's Grand Designs Home of the year last night.

Built over four years by teams of dedicated volunteers the house was constructed from local natural materials and is self sufficient, powered entirely by the sun and wind and using a rain water harvesting system.

The two storey structure was built from 350 straw bales. It was the UK's first-load bearing straw bale house and is one of only two such structures in Britain today.

Rachel beat off competition from a solar thermal timber framed house and an eight foot wide house with a low carbon footprint in a telephone vote last night.

The straw bale house will now go head to head with the winners of four other categories, all competing for the title of Grand Designs Home of the Year 2008.

The grand final is tonight at 9.00pm on Channel 4 .