Alec Macleod, Architect at Intelligent Design says ...

As a house designer more familiar with super-airtight, super-insulated timber frame as a preferred method of construction, working with ICF, and Stanchura as a contractor, has come as a very pleasant surprise. ICF has many benefits, not least the ease by which a poured construction can achieve an airtight envelope, coupled with low U-values, but I have also been struck generally by the simplicity of the method and all this means for detailing and the corresponding impact on supervision. After simplicity

I would add in versatility. I was surprised, for example, by how well this method performed in a basement scenario, both in retaining and in receiving an effective waterproofing treatment. In the end, though, it is the very fact of the solidity of this construction, whilst still providing the same energy responsive envelope of a timber frame resulting from the mass structure being isolated by the inner layer of insulation, that is so appealing. I will use it again.  

Alec designed the stunning cliffside property in Downderry, Cornwall