Meet Simon, Jasmine, Cosmo and Elfie. They look a little tall to be Hobbits, right? This Welsh family found a unique solution to the high-cost of housing while also indulging their desire to live closer to nature by building a small eco-home into a hillside. It took them a few months, a few thousand dollars, and a tolerance of mud and slugs.
Often when we feature incredible spaces created by parents, one or both of them turn out to be trained as architects or designers, but dad, Simon Dale, is just a regular guy. This kind of building is accessible to anyone. My main relevant skills were being able bodied, having self belief and perseverence and a mate or two to give a lift now and again.
Some of the eco features include:
See more photos and read more about the house and the building process at Simon Dale's website. What's next for this family? They're participants in the Lammas project - along with eight other families, they'll be swinging their hammers again to create Wales' first self-built eco-village.
Photos: A Low Impact Woodland Home
Copyright © 2007 Apartment Therapy
Wow, i think this home is beautiful!
view DahliaCactus's profile
It IS awesome!
It also reminds me of Billy Crystals' house in Princess Bride, or maybe some Gelflings' abode... Do you think he watched Dark Crystal, much?
view Jet'set's profile
I wish it was my house!
view EmmanuellePorlier's profile
drop a match and you are toast.
view joebelt's profile
Wow! I love this and wish I had one of my own as well!
view freedomisavoice's profile
wow- its like being a Hobbit! how fun! its so lovely. but i have to agree with joebelts- its a big fire risk. but then again so are all homes i suppose.
view Oneformybaby's profile
That is really cool!
view PlanItGirl's profile
fabulous... my boyfriend definitely wants to live like this. he plans all the details in his free time. but goodness, i would miss crown moulding and straight walls.
view Barbara S's profile
Barbara S,
Reserve the room above the 4-car garage for that.
;-)
view AlmostAD's profile
Oneformybaby,
Maybe one day we will wisen up and start using bricks instead of wood framing for our housing. It's worked in Europe for centuries and house fires are not the problem they are here in the States.
view joebelt's profile
Magic
view oliGOfree's profile
Joebelt, a major reason we don't use much brick is earthquake.
Each area builds with what is suitable, practical, available, and affordable.
Florida has a lot of masonry homes, the thermal mass works, and they are prone to humidity damage.
I work in a brick building, and it is not suitable for habitation. The mildew, the constant upkeep inside and outside of the walls, and the inability to handle dynamic earth conditions all lend to a somewhat unstable construction.
We do need to build differently, absolutely. However, one area's wonderful option is not always best for another area.
I would like to live in an earthship in the future, but not someplace where the water table is only 3 feet below the surface.
view gsg's profile
Absolutely beautiful!
view Bearfort Lodge's profile
In india all buildings are build using reinforced steel bar,cement concrit.Bricks are used only as fillings for walls.I thought this is earthquake resistante.
view sachin's profile
salt
view lfosses's profile
That's amazing!
view S. Elizabeth's profile
It's gorgeous!!!
I love it and I want to live there!
Beautiful construction with the tress branches and the light is beautiful.
I like the refridgeration technique too.
I wonder if that is possible in warmer climates.
My great grandparents had small refridgeration cupboards in their home ,but this was in Oregon where it is cool enought most of the time.
view polychrome1's profile
This is one super-cool house. I want one!
Simon Dale should start a business consulting on how to do this.
view dblitz's profile
I agree with Dblitz. I would love plans to create something like this on a smaller scale, say for grandchildren.
view monster7's profile
I'm skeptical-let's see if this place is still standing in another couple years. Looks like a mold magnet to me.
view telsing2's profile
The coolest! If we can ever break the working to pay for stuff cycle we've got it made. Looks like you are there....congratulations!
view harris's profile