Hans J Marter

2 July, 2007

RICHARD Winkelmann's love affair with the northern isles started around 20 years ago when he visited Shetland, Orkney and the Faroe Islands for the first time. Since then he has returned every year to the Old Rock and his love for its open scenery, the fresh air and the local folk has further intensified.

In fact, he is so much part of the local scene today that a number of island companies have forged close business relationships with him, setting him up to bring a housing revolution not just to Shetland, but across the whole Highland and Islands area.

The 75 year young developer, who does not believe that one's working life stops at 65, exports sustainable, low energy housing ideas from his native Germany to the wind ridden northern isles, a business concept that might initially sound somewhat alien.

For it is not the energy of the wind or the waves that Richard is keen to harness - it is the sun, or more precisely, the light.

The £1 million Bio Solar Hus, presently being built at the North Ness Business Park, in Lerwick, is only the first sign of things to come. The office block is said to be 90 per cent self sufficient in energy thanks to solar panels fitted under its glass roof.

Anybody who doubts that figure will be told by Richard in no uncertain terms that, of course, the building will stand up to expectations and that there is no reason why this technology, tested and mature as it is, should not work on a group of islands in the north Atlantic.

Once completed by the end of September this year, HIE Shetland will relocate from their current office space at the Toll Clock Shopping Centre to the "iconic" Bio Solar Hus in what is a clear endorsement of the project and its wider implications.

The economic development agency has signed a 20 year lease agreement with Scotactec, a company formerly run by former Shetland Enterprise staff member Rae Tulloch, which in turn forms part of the Artec Group Europe, a holding company controlled by Richard.

Other local business men involved in the strategy to bring green housing to the isles are surveyor Stephen Johnston, property consultant David Adamson, architect Peter Johnson, as well as builders DITT, who are carrying out most of the construction work and are sub contracted to the German company Bio Solar Haus.

"This is the healthiest and the most energy efficient building in the world. It is the healthiest because it has breathable walls, which work as natural ventilation.

"The hot water generated through the solar panels will heat the walls of the building, which will be sufficient. During the winter months we expect the building to be 90 per cent energy sufficient, and therefore we will be connected to the district heating system to bridge the gap," Richard explains.

Built with a steel frame and untreated timber, the building will feature solar panels under its glass roof. The outer layer will be clad with galvanized steel, painted blue and red.

Meanwhile, negotiations to build a model estate of sustainable housing in Vidlin are well advanced.

The energetic pensioner will be on the Scottish mainland next week to start discussions with Stirling University as well as the University of the Highlands & Islands with a view to underpin the Vidlin project with vital scientific research.

"We are planning an innovative demonstration settlement in a rural area, according to the over arching objectives of the Scottish Executive to develop housing in rural areas," he says.

He adds that he is already in discussions with the executive's housing agency Communities Scotland as well as with the council's planning department.

"In the past, the strategy for house building was insulation, insulation, insulation. That is in fact very unhealthy and inefficient too. The future is in ecological building materials, with untreated timber and energy efficiency," he says.

Meanwhile, Steven Leask, operations manager at HIE Shetland, said they were delighted with developments. "As an economic development agency we believe we should be at the forefront of new technologies and industries. The design of the building will be an exemplar of design and construction in Shetland, bringing new skills and ideas to the community"