I find this approach quite sustainable, moreover I’m thinking about my own house built this way. I and my husband actually take into consideration this kind of living in future. In Europe, particularly in Great Britain these kinds of houses are pretty normal way of life for people.
I really like the design of the house, its functionality and quite cheap price - the result a hand crafted home of beauty, warmth and health for about £3,000. I and do not see the reason not to follow such successful example.
You are looking at pictures of a house Simon Dale built for his family in Wales. It was built himself and his father in law with help from passers by and visiting friends. 4 months after starting they were moved in and cosy. He estimates 1000-1500 man hours and £3000 put in to this point. Not really so much in house buying terms (roughly £60/sq m excluding labour).
The house was built with maximum regard for the environment and by reciprocation gives them a unique opportunity to live close to nature. Being your own (have a go) architect is a lot of fun and allows you to create and enjoy something which is part of yourself and the land rather than, at worst, a mass produced box designed for maximum profit and convenience of the construction industry. Building from natural materials does away with producers profits and the cocktail of carcinogenic poisons that fill most modern buildings.
Some key points of the design and construction:
-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.
Main tools used: chainsaw, hammer and 1 inch chisel, little else really. Oh and by the way Simon Dale is not a builder or carpenter, his experience is only having a go at one similar house 2yrs before and a bit of mucking around inbetween. This kind of building is accessible to anyone. His main relevant skills were being able bodied, having self belief and perseverence and a mate or two to give a lift now and again.
I am sure, this building is one part of a low-impact or permaculture approach to life. Simon says "This sort of life is about living in harmony with both the natural world and ourselves, doing things simply and using appropriate levels of technology. These sort of low cost, natural buildings have a place not only in their own sustainability, but also in their potential to provide affordable housing which allows people access to land and the opportunity to lead more simple, sustainable live".
I can imagine living myself in such kind of houses together with my family and I will be happy with it.
In the present days there is a growing popularity of the sustainable houses, produced commercially and there is a company Solaleya, which specializes on it. But I’m afraid the price will be much more than £3,000.
http://www.simondale.net/house
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