02 Nov 2003

economical eco-friendly self build housing options

Developed in the USA, and now over here in the UK, earthships use tyres and bottles, to make amazing buildings.Earthships:
Earthships were pioneered by American architect, Michael Reynolds, who challenged the traditional style of home building and living, by using recyclable materials such as discarded tyres and aluminium cans, a technique was developed to provide a truly self-sufficient home.

A family strawbale home for 5. Built in a series of workshops. 2 days for the walls, 2 months for the thatch!Strawbale Buildings:
Strawbale building once a quirky one off build is now becoming a quick and easy way of building for people interested in sustainable eco friendly materials.

The Mongolian ger is built to withstand some of the hardest climate extremes with temperatures regularly falling to minus 40 degrees in winter, at least three quarters of the mongolian population live in gers and have done for thousands of years. The average size is 18-20ft in diameter with the side walls around 4ft high, but the center allows plenty of room to stand.Yurts:
Yurts along with tipis, Mongolian gers, berber tents, are fast becoming poplular for their many uses, as either a temporary structure or as more permanant home.

Buckminster Fuller is the man best known for the invention of the geodesic dome–the lightest, strongest, and most cost-effective structure ever devised. In the 1950's he invented the geodesic dome, and also championed the earliest proponents of renewable energy sources–solar (including wind and wave) Today over 300,000 domes dot the globe. During an earthquake a dome has an even distribution of weight and a low center of gravity so it moves with the earth.Geodomes:
A geodesic structure is a self-supporting triangulate networking in spheric order. It is a set of hexagons articulated around pentagons, forming hemispheric latitudes. It has the advantage of being particularly economical and can incorporate eco living.

Calthorpe Centre London. These are timber frame houses designed to be relatively simple to construct and therefore amenable to a low skill self-build process. Non toxic materials used. Catchment of rainwater and thermal capture.Walter Segal:
Walter Segal pioneered a fast track way for communities to build quickly and cheaply, timber-framed dwellings which are environmentally friendly. The Walter Segal trust services are available to everyone, especially those in housing need or on low incomes, including local authorities, housing associations and any other body interested in building.

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