A Low Impact Woodland Home
September 24th 2007 02:44
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:
" * 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
* 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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