A Different Kind of Green House
Mayne Island Cabin
(via cobworks.com)
Cob House in Stenlille, Denmark
(via http://www.fornyetenergi.dk)
Cob Cottage Company
(via Year of Mud, an awesome blog that documents one man’s first experience building a cob house)
GOBCOBATRON
(via Year of Mud, this one’s blog owner’s home!)
Straw Bale Build Project
(via Quiet Earth)
Sunset Cottage
(via strawbale.com)
Portland Rebuild Centre (which I actually live down the road from)
(via ilovecob.com)
Meka Cottage
(via cobprojects.info)
Spiral Straw Bale’s “Truth Window”
(via naturalhomes.org)
Cob Skyscrapers
(via ilovecob.com)
A few years ago I had the opportunity to tour the straw bale house of family friends, Jim and Nancy, who built their home on top of a hill in Old Shasta, California. Why I didn’t bring a camera with me, I’ll never know. Their home is amazing; the thought and clear intent that went into each room astonished me with every corner we turned.
It was only moments after setting foot on their property before my addiction was born… It was love at first sight. If I ever get the chance to go back, I’m gonna photograph the heck out of it!
Chris and I have always toyed with the idea of building our own straw bale home someday. We both love the aesthetic and awareness involved in alternative construction. And, I know I have a tendency to make mean-spirited jokes about hippies, but I’ve even gotten used to the idea of possibly living in a house that had (gulp) composting toilets. Yeah, ew, right? But, if that’s the price to pay for having the complete freedom to literally sculpt your dream home with your own bare hands, then so be it.
About once a year I go on a straw bale Google-binge. This week I filled my yearly quota and decided to unload my archive of inspiration. Maybe it’ll spark some love at first sight with one of you dear readers, as well!
As an aside, I actually found a friend of my mother’s on a natural building website– I didn’t even know she had a straw bale home! Small world, smaller internet.
0 comments
AWESOME! I love those homes. I have always wanted to do the same thing- some day I tell myself.. Some day. It’s GOT to be affordable [maybe?]– but even if not, who cares. I’d deal with the toilets if it meant designing my own dream home too. These are inspiring.
I’m really digging the variety in your blog lately!!
Thanks Asha!
As far as the research I’ve done tells me, it can get expensive but is still usually more affordable than conventional building. It all depends on the size and complexity, where you’re building, and how much you want to do yourself vs. hiring people to do it for you. One website I read says that d.i.y.-ers who live off the grid have built their homes for as little as $15-20/sq. foot. Crazy.
PS I definitely just accidentally posted that comment twice but you are apparently an internet genius and have it set to automatically delete duplicate posts- VERY cool. I just wanted to mention that.
My dream is to build a sustainable home. These are amazing Kim. Thanks for sharing :)
Maybe we should build a sustainable home pact, since we are (err, were) California buddies and all! Like, if one of us ever does build a sustainable home, the other one will come out to help build it. I get all gushy and warm-hearted just looking at the construction photos of these homes, with everyone stompin’ around in mud together. Must be an awesome bonding experience! (and even better photo opp, hehe :)
sounds good. cross my fingers we will do it ;]
I think Jim and Nancy would love for you to photograph their house. Who wouldn’t, especially after they put so much personal work into it? Make sure you include their terraced garden, that I was my favorite part.
I love those! I always wish my parents could make our house strawbale, but more like how it is at Turtle Bay.. I love the Cob House in Denmark, and the lounge seating area in the Cob Cottage Company below it.
Oh my god it’s Hobbiton.
hahaha. If you think those look like Hobbiton, check out this straw bale house:
http://kitsandmortar.com/2008/03/25/a-hobbit-house/
Those are beautiful and they sound amazing. It would be so cool to build (or even help someone build their own) one day.
[...] across this fabulous blog post rounding up a bunch of different straw bale and cob builds. Kim links to some blogs I’d not heard of before as well, so going to take a look at those! [...]