A striking new education and wellbeing center in Hertfordshire, England, showcases how sustainable architecture can blend seamlessly with environmental conservation. The Apple House, designed by London-based design collective Okra, features an exterior covered entirely in irregular oak shingles that serve a dual purpose as both building material and wildlife habitat for insects and bats.
Located in Serge Hill, the center was commissioned by The Serge Hill Project, a local community interest company dedicated to demonstrating how people's lives and wellbeing can be transformed through working with nature. The barn-like structure houses a multi-purpose learning and workshop space, kitchen, and office, all of which overlook a vegetable garden and educational "plant library" through large windows.
The building's most distinctive feature is its hand-cleft oak shingles, which were created entirely from oak trees felled in nearby overcrowded forest areas. The wood was cut to lengths that could be processed completely by hand, resulting in wavy, irregular forms that create natural gaps between the shingles. These gaps intentionally serve as habitats for bugs and bats, integrating wildlife conservation directly into the building's design.
"We wanted to explore what could be done with natural materials immediately available to the site in a way that is resourceful, practical and beautiful," explained Ben Stuart-Smith, co-founder of Okra. "Above ground and excluding its corrugated aluminum roof, The Apple House is made entirely from natural materials."
The commitment to local, natural materials extends throughout the entire structure. The oak shingles cloak a spruce timber frame that forms the building's structural foundation, which is then infilled with hempcrete to create the external walls. Internal partitions were constructed using birch plywood panels, including a large storage wall positioned behind the kitchen area.
One of the building's most practical features is a wall of folding wooden doors that allows the kitchen to be completely closed off from the multi-purpose hall when needed. Above, shutters in the office space help control the connection between different areas of the center, providing flexibility in how the spaces are used.
The flooring represents another innovative use of local materials, created in collaboration with natural materials expert Will Stanwix. Clay and straw bricks, known as "strocks," were produced by local brickmaker H G Matthews, then cut in half to create tiles that were sealed with linseed oil for durability and protection.
Due to a one-meter level change across the construction site, the center sits partially on a brick foundation to maintain the building's ground floor on a single level. The surrounding perimeter paths and ramps were carefully configured to ensure full accessibility for all visitors.
The plant library surrounding the center was designed by landscape practice Tom Stuart-Smith Studio and features an impressive collection of over 1,500 different plant varieties. This extensive botanical resource is intended to serve as an educational tool for anyone interested in plants and landscape design, supporting the center's mission of connecting people with nature.
From a distance, The Apple House maintains the appearance of a traditional agricultural building with its barn-like form and 45-degree-pitch black corrugated roof. However, as visitors approach, the building reveals itself as something far more complex, crafted, and expressive, demonstrating how sustainable architecture can honor traditional forms while incorporating innovative environmental features.
The project's significance has been recognized within the architectural community, recently earning a shortlist position in the leisure and wellness project category of Dezeen Awards 2025. This recognition highlights the growing importance of sustainable design practices that prioritize both human wellbeing and environmental conservation.
The Apple House represents a growing trend in contemporary architecture toward using locally sourced, natural materials in innovative ways. The project demonstrates how traditional building techniques can be adapted for modern environmental challenges while creating spaces that actively support both human communities and local ecosystems.
