Words Holly Nicholas
Photography Josh Shinner

Over a period of six weeks, the team prepares the ground for the concrete to be poured. Stone, sand, insulation, membrane and steel mesh is added, in readiness for the build’s most expensive (and messy) day yet. Undeniably, the couple are at a stage of the build where their mark on their woodland surroundings is most keenly felt. But plans are in place to ensure that Fizmer has an overwhelmingly positive impact on the environment; a rewilding plan spans 45 acres, enabling the build to create an 189% uplift in biodiversity (stay tuned for a dedicated episode on this).

The couple’s total spend on foundations was around £530 per square metre – more than they’d budgeted for, but as Josh and Anna explain, “Foundations and drainage are such a crucial stage, and we felt it wasn’t something to overly value-engineer for risk of it coming back to haunt us later when everything’s buried.”

It’s not all mud and overspend, though. The episode ends with a reminder of the gentle beauty of their secluded site, which will propel them on to the next major phase: the steel structure.

Follow the progress of Fizmer on The Modern House’s YouTube and Instagram channels and @fizmer.house.