Rainwater Towers Apartments 2 (click to enlarge)
Specifications: Four 16′ interior diameter roundhouses and one 12’ interior bath, total 842 sq. ft. interior, two bedrooms, one bath, Footprint: 50′ x 50′
Description: This three-story, triple roundhouse tower apartment complex is designed to provide affordable housing in urban areas. The towers are primarily earthen construction. Made with earthbag tubes filled with earth and tamped solid, very few manufactured/processed materials are required. This greatly reduces construction costs. The apartment name comes from the fact rainwater is captured on the roof and stored in cisterns, which reduces demand on city water supplies. Each apartment is accessible by a spiral staircase in the front tower. Features include two spacious 201 sq. ft. bedrooms with large closets, modern kitchen and bath, pantry and comfortable living room. All rooms are round to create an embracing, inviting ambience. The round towers are naturally stable and form a visually striking exterior.
Rainwater Towers Apartments 2 floorplan (click to enlarge)
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Rainwater Towers Apartments 1
Beautiful. Is that’s fourth floor entrance for a rooftop terrace?
Yes, it can be made available to tenants or kept private for the owner as they wish. While exclusive access is appealing, some owners may prefer to use the terrace as a draw to help rent the other units.
There’s a 3′ high earthbag wall around the terrace.
Is each floor like the picture displayed? or are they all different. Good job on the design
The house was very interesting interesting. I design unique houses too. I may post some of my creatins on facebook or Mocpages sometime soon.
It’s the same, although you certainly could change the floorplan if you want.
Is this design acceptable for the coastal area of south Texas? I know a good overhang is normal for my area (corpus christi), but is there any type of plaster or concrete that would have enough tolerance to water?
It’s best for dry areas since there’s no roof. You could modify the design to provide better protection. And yes, there are plasters and coatings that are more waterproof.
Can this be built in colder climates like Minnesota?
Can it have a steel dome roof instead?
You would have to insulate the outside or build with insulating fill material. This complicates construction and adds to the cost. http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Insulated-Earthbag-House/
Dome roofs are possible, but ideally you’d have a way to protect the walls from snow and rain.
Hello Mr Geiger.
Do you feel a Palapa, or even several palapa’s could be anchored or constructed on the 4th floor terrace level?
Wonderful plans !!
Yes, that could work. You’d have to build a frame.
I dont see where i can buy the plans for this how do i get the plans? and is it possible to make it a 3 bedroom???
All plans are available through Dream Green Homes.com http://www.dreamgreenhomes.com/materials/earth/earthbags.htm
Custom plans are available for an extra fee. Email your request (preferably with a sketch saved as jpeg image) to strawhouses [at] yahoo.com for a free, fixed quote.
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