Family builds their own private ecovillage with free materials
Kirsten Dirksen・33 minutes read
The house at 1,700 FT elevation is constructed with reclaimed materials, influenced by the need to withstand strong winds, featuring innovative elements like a shower room with built-in shelves and a water filtration system using salvaged materials. The property also includes a rainwater harvesting system with a capacity of 26,000 gallons and furniture made from salvaged materials, showcasing a unique and sustainable approach to design and construction.
Insights
- The house construction spanned 15 years due to the slow acquisition of materials, with the family residing in a trailer on-site during this period, emphasizing a commitment to utilizing reclaimed materials and sustainable building practices.
- The innovative design of the house incorporates various elements such as hurricane shutters, water collection systems, and a composting toilet, showcasing a blend of functionality and eco-friendliness while reflecting a need to withstand strong winds and water scarcity, ultimately creating a unique and resilient living space.
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Recent questions
How long did it take to build the house?
15 years
What influenced the design of the house?
Need to withstand strong winds
What is the capacity of the rainwater harvesting system?
26,000 gallons
What materials were used for furniture in the house?
Salvaged materials
What was the initial purpose of the bedroom?
For kids
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Summary
00:00
Innovative Eco-Friendly Home Built Over 15 Years
- The property is at 1,700 FT elevation, with the top slightly higher at 1750 FT.
- The house is built with reclaimed materials, including steel from the Lockheed plant in Burbank, California.
- The construction took about 15 years due to the slow collection of materials.
- The family lived in a trailer on the property for 15 years while building the house.
- The house features a unique design with a Crow's Nest and a lofted bedroom.
- The main space took about two and a half years to collect steel and wood for construction.
- The building was initially constructed with a 10-foot commitment for the ceiling height.
- The house design is influenced by the need to withstand strong winds, with hurricane shutters and heavy materials.
- The water collection system includes a large bowl that overflows during heavy rain, attracting wildlife.
- The house features innovative elements like a shower room with built-in shelves and a water filtration system using salvaged materials.
18:05
Eco-friendly home with unique features
- The building features a straw wall and a built-in bookcase, insulated with Patagonia surfboard foam, which takes longer to install than fiberglass insulation.
- The bedroom, initially for kids, is now claimed by the owners due to its quietness and protection from wind and rain.
- A new door was installed to replace a rotted one, leading to a closet with cedar wood and an exterior window converted into a door.
- The adjacent boardroom, also a guest room, connects to a composting toilet through a door that was previously a window.
- The house's water system includes gutters connected to a 1200-gallon tank, which can be emptied into a 5000-gallon tank at the bottom of the driveway.
- The plumbing system involves a 4-inch line for fire and a 2-inch line for the house, with water pumped up to three 5000-gallon tanks for pressure.
- The decision to rely on rainwater was made after two wells went dry, leading to the installation of a rainwater harvesting system with a capacity of 26,000 gallons.
- The composting toilet, a two-chambered system, was the first legally allowed in the area, with one chamber in use and the other sitting for 2.5 years.
- The Orchard collects water from two mountain sides into a 5000-gallon tank, allowing for watering with bowl water or tank water as needed.
- The house features furniture made from salvaged materials, including a couch made from flooring material and a pantry cabinet built around salvaged fur doors.
36:21
Repurposed WWII Rounds: Unique Sustainable Furniture Design
- World War II dummy rounds were repurposed as cabinet supports, with four wooden missiles used to hold up the cabinets, each costing $5 and made of turned Maple.
- The cabinets were built with machine finger joints, rope, and panels made of copper, aluminum, stainless steel, and wood, with different sizes of glass blocks from a salvage place incorporated.
- The cabinets were angled to reference the front of a stove, with measurements taken for pots and pans to customize drawer sizes, and materials like Redwood Bridge and stainless steel from Glass Beach used in construction.
- Various materials like mahogany pews from a church, trailer siding, straw walls, and pool coping were creatively repurposed for furniture and structures, showcasing a unique and sustainable approach to design and construction.
