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A Low Impact Woodland Home

September 24th 2007 02:44
Hobbit Home in Wales

This page got quite a bit of attention on the Internet when it was linked to on Reddit and Digg. Simon Dale built a Hobbit-Hole in Wales, made out of materials from the forest, and you've never seen anything this comfortable.


Dale built it himself with his father-in-law and friends... he estimates it cost him "1000-1500 man hours and 3000 pounds".

Quite a bargain, no?

Well, it's very rustic. But it's built to have minimal impact on the environment, while still providing a comfortable place to live. Dale writes some of the finer points about his home:

Inside the Hobbit Home lit with candles

" * 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."

More links from the page:


Building Plans


Pictures of construction and the process




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Comments
3 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by katyzzz

September 24th 2007 05:47
I think I must be a bit of a hobbit at heart, see the moon there?

It reminds me of wind in the willows, it seems I'm a bit of a mole, too. Had to be careful with the spelling there.

katyzzz

Comment by Louie

September 24th 2007 06:20
always wanted my own hobbit hole to hide in. v cool.

Comment by Cibbuano

September 24th 2007 21:51
Yeah, me too... I'd love to have a little place like this in the country...!


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