How to build a Hobbit house3

We’ve seen a lot of people building their own houses made from all sorts of stuff and it’s never boring seeing how creative people can be. This time we’ll take a look at Simon Dale’s hobbit house.

Using only natural materials Simon built this house with his father-in-law and the help of random people who wanted to give a hand. It took 1000-1500 man hours and $5,000 from start to finish.

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 thinning (spare wood) from surrounding woodland
• Reciprocal roof rafters are structurally and aesthetically 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…)
• Wood burner 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.

Source