Organic Architecture, Low Impact Housing or Houses from the Shire

Using naturally found materials in Wales, lots of sweat equity, and a vision of whimsy this house was built for around 12,000 USD and can be used all year round. The reason this shelter works is the following. 

• 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

Sustainable, low impact, and affordable housing for those who want to partner with their local surroundings rather than dominate it.
This is a very cool site with plans and ideas on making your own.  

Super adobe structures, earthquake proof, homes built with sandbags and wire

A stucture that passes the California Earthquake code, looks cool, built to last, and energy efficient. 


Super Adobe is the future for adobe buildings. The Plans are to be used in conjunction with a week long or 3 day course on building the domes. The plans include a DVD and plans for a series of domes that interconnected to created living spaces that look organic and can breathe. Perfect for Southern California, Arizona, SouthWest Living. 


The design uses local materials so the cost in building the super adobe is more geared toward labor rather than shipping of materials from far away. The secret is barb wire that holds the stuffed sandbags in position. 

Superadobe Technology, U.S. patent #5,934,027, has been tested on individual domes and vaults (1993-1996) for the City of Hesperia, California, Building and Safety Department, in consultation with I.C.B.O. These structures passed the California required codes.