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A Low Impact Woodland Home

2008-03-03-low impact.jpg

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.


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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.

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Some of the eco features include:


  • a skylight to let in natural light

  • solar panels to fuel lights and electronics like a cd player and computer

  • a refrigerator cooled by air coming underground through the foundation

  • water supplied by gravity from a nearby spring

  • collection of roof water for use in the garden

  • a compost toilet



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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

Comments (21)

Wow, i think this home is beautiful!

posted by DahliaCactus on 2008-03-03 16:55:25
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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?

posted by Jet'set on 2008-03-04 01:25:10
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I wish it was my house!

posted by EmmanuellePorlier on 2008-03-04 10:07:04
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drop a match and you are toast.

posted by joebelt on 2008-03-05 14:11:01
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Wow! I love this and wish I had one of my own as well!

posted by freedomisavoice on 2008-03-05 14:53:42
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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.

posted by Oneformybaby on 2008-03-05 17:42:44
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That is really cool!

posted by PlanItGirl on 2008-03-05 17:42:57
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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.

posted by Barbara S on 2008-03-05 21:40:33
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Barbara S,

Reserve the room above the 4-car garage for that.

;-)

posted by AlmostAD on 2008-03-05 22:17:45
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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.

posted by joebelt on 2008-03-06 13:20:05
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Magic

posted by oliGOfree on 2008-03-07 22:37:07
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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.

posted by gsg on 2008-03-15 08:25:07
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Absolutely beautiful!

posted by Bearfort Lodge on 2008-03-22 12:37:17
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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.

posted by sachin on 2008-03-26 02:19:54
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salt

posted by lfosses on 2008-04-05 09:28:48
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That's amazing!

posted by S. Elizabeth on 2008-04-05 19:50:39
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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.

posted by polychrome1 on 2008-04-07 18:55:08
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This is one super-cool house. I want one!

Simon Dale should start a business consulting on how to do this.

posted by dblitz on 2008-04-08 01:39:55
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I agree with Dblitz. I would love plans to create something like this on a smaller scale, say for grandchildren.

posted by monster7 on 2008-04-12 10:36:01
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I'm skeptical-let's see if this place is still standing in another couple years. Looks like a mold magnet to me.

posted by telsing2 on 2008-04-22 22:46:11
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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!

posted by harris on 2008-04-24 15:37:18
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