Monday, January 22, 2007

DIY Hillbilly Hippie Hobbit Hole


A Low Impact Woodland Home

Maybe that last post has got me on a Mother Earth News mindset, but I think this site is amazing. This house was built in 1000-1500 man hours for 3000 lbs in Wales. Low impact, low cost, very nice. The whole site is worth digging into, for stories about the construction which was done by a young couple whilst managing two toddlers!

Some key points of the design and construction:

  • Dug into hillside for low visual impact and shelter
  • Stone and mud from diggings used for retaining walls, foundations etc.
  • Frame of oak thinnings (spare wood) from surrounding woodland
  • Reciprocal roof rafters are structurally and aesthaetically fantastic and very easy to do
  • Straw bales in floor, walls and roof for super-insulation and easy building
  • Plastic sheet and mud/turf roof for low impact and ease
  • Lime plaster on walls is breathable and low energy to manufacture (compared to cement)
  • Reclaimed (scrap) wood for floors and fittings
  • Anything you could possibly want is in a rubbish pile somewhere (windows, burner, plumbing, wiring...)
  • Woodburner for heating - renewable and locally plentiful
  • Flue goes through big stone/plaster lump to retain and slowly release heat
  • Fridge is cooled by air coming underground through foundations
  • Skylight in roof lets in natural feeling light
  • Solar panels for lighting, music and computing
  • Water by gravity from nearby spring
  • Compost toilet
  • Roof water collects in pond for garden etc.




via the Make Blog

1 comment:

Combatscoot said...

Awesome! I love low-impact construction. This particular dwelling has a Hobbitish feel to it.
One of my reasons for choosing to go car-less is environmental.
John