We've got windows and doors

Joseba has finally installed all the windows and doors, except at the entrance and the wintergarden.

He's used a high-performance solar control glass that specializes in blocking heat. It has a more reflective appearance and the lowest solar heat gain. They aren't completely transparent - they have a greyish colour and create a mirror effect - and will protect the house from getting too hot in summer.





But all that protection and heat control comes at a price: the light transmission rate of this glass is about 30%. That means that it will take quite a lot of the light coming in through the windows, so we've finally decided to paint all the walls also in white.

Conifers to protect the house

This month, we've had two people coming from the garden centre to plant half a dozen conifers on the northern far side of the plot. The idea is that - once they've grown a bit - they'll break the northern wind that comes howling down from the mountains through the valley.

We've chosen 4 different kinds: Cedrus Atlantica, Cedrus Atlantica Glauca, Cedrus Deodara and Cedrus Deodara Glauca. But, please don't ask us which one is what!

They are between 1.5 and 2.5 metres high now. At the moment it is difficult to believe that one day they'll be between 20 and 30 meter high.

a sauna with a view

We may not have doors and windows yet but we already have a sauna,... na na na na na na!!! And at least for today Sus is the happiest woman on the planet.



It's not a big sauna, 1.90 x 2.00 m., but it's enough for us, it leaves enough space in the room for a couple of exercise machines and it's full of fancy features: (click on the blue headlines for more information)

• COLOURED LIGHT: Enables you to immerse your sauna completely in your favourite colour (red, blue, green and yellow), change colours and create entirely new shades.
• LIFTLIGHT: A collagen-forming, and therefore skin firming function which is particularly effective in the warmth of the sauna.
• SaunaPUR: This function brings you very near to the original form of sauna bathing. The heater is pre-heated to 80 to 85ºC and then switched off. As a result a soft and delightful radiation heat can be felt. The big quantity of sauna stones (100 Kg) allows the temperature to drop very slowly and by increasing humidity you're able to maintain perceived warmth at a constant level. If you wish, this process can take place in the form of aromatic steam. The Finns would say: “Loeyly”.
• Sound package: Two loudspeakers inside the sauna can be connected to a HiFi equipment to enjoy the sauna with your favourite music. This is particularly useful for people who like listening to music in the sauna, which normally means that EVERYONE in the neighbourhood listens to the music, as the loudspeakers are outside the sauna... Don't you think this is great, Jochen? (Edorta says he didn't write this. Ok, it's Susanne who wrote this part).
  
• Touchscreen control panel, pre-heating timer, etc.
  

The best of all, anyway, is the view from the sauna. Pictures cannot really show it but, believe me, you can be lying in there looking at the snowy mountains oposite. Isn't that fantastic?



So you`ll be seeing something like this from inside the sauna: (minus the builders' fence, obviously)