Offbeat housing???

[Wazabi Owner]

Anyone have any experience with any sort of off beat housing. Heck, it's OK even if your neighbor or relative has something. I'd just like to hear about it to work ideas around in my head.

What I mean by off beat is something that isn't a traditional stick built house.

I have looked at:
Geodesic domes (I prefer the concrete geodesic example: www.aidomes.com)
Monolithic domes
Strawbale
Cob (the wife and I have gone to several classes for this but I hate how dirty it is)
Papercrete
Earthbag

I'll be retiring in a few years and have lots of land so I figure I'll build some "sheds" that I might later make inhabitable ;) (sheds don't require permits and they'll be hidden except from the eye in the sky) If I do the Geodesic Dome which is what I'm leaning towards I will pull the proper permits. Shooting for composting toilet etc. A totally self sustainable house is what I'm looking for so if your brother sister's friend has a doghouse made out papercrete (example) lets hear about it.

[UfoTofU]

You could simply recycle entire buildings for building materials.

A guy that I visited in California had a "recycled" house. He knew the superintendent of schools in his area and got dibs on ALL of the materials from a few old schools. Keep in mind that this was more than 20 or so years ago but he got all perfectly usable materials as well as top quality (solid oak doors and flooring from a gymnasium, oak flooring from a gym, even stained glass, etc. etc.).

Best part was that he got it all for FREE. Of course he had to do all of the labor himself but I would say that is well worth it.

The man was also very interested in Japan and Japanese culture and took lots of inspiration in the building of his house from traditional Japanese houses.

[JanGeo]

In colder climates, maybe in warmer climates also, you might consider earth sheltered designs IF you have a low water table. They stay pretty temp stable year around and in Fla you could greatly reduce cooling costs.

[ketel0ne]

Have you looked at shipping containers or tiny houses?

http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/
http://www.tinyhouses.net/
http://www.tinyhousecompany.com/

We are putting some combination of tiny houses on our lower lot.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/01/shipping_contai.php

[Wazabi Owner]

UfoTofU- Interesting indeed. We've discussed that since my grandmother lives in a house that used "recycled" materials. The house was built by my grandfather around 65 years ago from recycled scrap wood. If I remember correctly they bought it by the truck load. Ready for the price? A quarter a truckload no matter what size truck! (not as good as free though) My grandfather used a dumptruck to get the wood. My grandfather has been gone for over a decade but the house still stands with minimal damage from each big hurricane.

JanGeo- I've strongly considered earth bermed. I forgot to mention that in my list above but even though I live in Florida my land has some hills here and there. I will definitely be "digging in". I need a front end loader for my tractor....:eek: ...wife gets mad when I mention that.

ketel0ne- This one is one my wife wants to do as well. I'm not as ready for it as she is. I don't know why though, I think its the logistics of it. Getting one of those containers on my property to where I need it to be would be a tree killing extravaganza. I'm going to have to take down 2 trees for my garage and I'm not happy about that at all, a container would mean many more. I still think they are really cool, just can't fit on in. :( Thanks for those links. I haven't run across those.

[omgwtfbyobbq]

Check out calearth dot org. Very cool, or warm, well... well insulated. And supposedly flood/earthquake proof. Also supposedly available as a stoc building plan in the local county.
http://www.calearth.org/3vaults_files/3vaultInt.jpg

[JanGeo]

I will definitely be "digging in". I need a front end loader for my tractor.... ...wife gets mad when I mention that.

Then ask if you can get a back hole digger instead.

[Wazabi Owner]

omgwtfbyobbq- THANK YOU for that link. Apparently I've been to that site before (according to my wife, but I can't remember so its new to me) I have/have read Nader Khalili's book "How to build your own ceramic & earth architechure". Actually the picture you show is on th ecover of the book. ;) I already asked my wife if I can build two of those side by side and then paint them tan with the very tops of them pink. She didn't see the same humor I did - my house is on a "run in" for a (military) drop zone and I KNOW the aircrews would get a kick out of it if I did the placement just right. They do normally come in fast and low but I know they'd notice it.

JanGeo- I catch heck just because I religously buy the "Heavy Equipment Trader" (Autotrader for tractors) - a back hoe is a no go too. :thumbdown:

[omgwtfbyobbq]

If you need any first hand info gimme a holler. I passed through there briefly a few months ago and have been looking for an excuse to go and check it out thoroughly ever since. :D

[The Toecutter]

Geodesic houses kick ***.

[JanGeo]

John Deer lawn tractor has accessories for the lawnmower including a back hole digger so you start with a lawn tractor....

[Wazabi Owner]

omgwtfbyobbq- I may just take you up on that offer. As the weather cools here I'll be doing more outside. The wife and I discussed it and she wants to do the earthbag first (at least that's today's thought, could change tomorrow)

The Toecutter- MY FAVORITE is the geodesic from AI Domes, I still really want to do one of those....

JanGeo- I currently have a 20 horsepower Yanmar tractor (they do the engines for John Deere). This might be the excuse for getting that front end loader I've been wanting for it. :p I already have a bush hog, disc, grader, & box blade for it.

[WisJim]

Domes: the interior space is odd/difficult to deal with or use, unless you are growing trees in it. (my opinion, based on domes built by friends) The most recent dome I have known is a monolithic concrete dome, isn't quite done yet, way way over budget.

Strawbale: I would consider strawbale if I was building a new home, but I am in Wisconsin, not Florida, and have no experience with any housing or building in southern climates.

Cob: I agree with the messiness comments. I think that cob is for folks who still want to fingerpaint.

Papercrete looks real interesting, but I haven't done anything with it. Keep thinking that i should make a giant blender to mix it in properly and then start building--but I am not done with all of my current projects.

Earthbag--no experience, seems like a lot of work.

Whatever you do, make sure it is well insulated if you are going to live in it, to keep it cool in hot weather and warm in cold weather, with minimal energy expenditure.