I thought this was a cool looking house. It looks like it came from LOTR. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

A low impact woodland home

Simon writes -

"You are looking at pictures of our family home in Wales. It was built by myself and my father in law with help from passers by and visiting friends. 4 months after starting we were moved in and cosy. I estimate 1000-1500 man hours and £3000 put in to this point. Not really so much in house buying terms (roughly £60/sq m excluding labour).

The house was built with maximum regard for the environment and by reciprocation gives us a unique opportunity to live close to nature. Being your own (have a go) architect is a lot of fun and allows you to create and enjoy something which is part of yourself and the land rather than, at worst, a mass produced box designed for maximum profit and convenience of the construction industry. Building from natural materials does away with producers profits and the cocktail of carcinogenic poisons that fill most modern buildings."

Don't Hobbits live there ?!? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Now that is great! Truely amazing these days!

I dig it!!!


Ahh where is the bowie?

I don't think I would like to live under ground, mildew is just too much of a problem if there is any moisture in the soil.

I saw a stone house that was built with a tilt up method. The rocks were free and concrete is cheap. It might not look so unique but it has no moisture issues.

wow.. that's very Hobbitish..
air conditioning costs would prolly be pretty low too.. nice & cool in there.

I was thinking of something a little less hobbit a little more bunker ,like a
house made of used tires covered in dirt to look like a hill then planted with grasses.

ahh... a dirt/grass bunker made with tires.. steel-belted radials? or the old bias ply?
that would be more like.. Mad Max / Road Warrior style!

My grandfather always wanted to have a house like that. He made it to 93, but never got the house.

Environmentally friendly or not, I'll never build a house where I have to mow the roof!

Have a cow man!

Best eco house I've seen in years- very bushcraft! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I always wanted to try building a sod house since I was a kid. Much easier than a log cabin. Just cut and stack. Like an igloo for a warmer climate. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I always thought it’d be cool to plant carrots, potatos, and onions on the roof. Then, whenever you wanted to make a good stew, you could just reach up and pick them from the ceiling. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />


That might be a bit heavy on the roof, but goats would be good. You can also get wool from them, unlike cows. One extra use of the animal. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Sod houses are nice and you never have to worry about the temp, but I've always wondered what happens if it rains for an extended period of time. Does the house flood and does dirt flow everywhere?

Good question Ted! I'd guess it depends on the roof pitch ('run off' instead of 'soak in')

Andy apart from 'curry goat' I'd rather eat the cow!.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Perhaps Alpacas might be a better choice for animal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpaca

Better guard than the cow anyway..

I would think an underground house would be safer in a tornado or high wind area's. plus like stated you wouldn't need much for heat or air conditioning, just air flow for circulation and humidity. I'd like to try one out!