Earth-bermed Earthbag House
Specifications: 450 sq. ft. interior, 1 bedroom, 1 bath, Footprint: 23′ x 27′ plus entry
Description: This compact and efficient design is built into a hillside or built on grade and bermed with earth. An earthbag retaining wall creates an entryway on the right.
Earthbag House Plans 
The earth-bermed’ earthbag’ house plan is probably what I want to order. I have two raw acres in north central Alabama that is on a slow sloping hill. Near the top there is good soil but also some rock so probably a walkout is best due to rock at depth even though I like your subterranean house.
I only see a sketch of the earth – berm so can you send me a picture of what it might look like. I want the structure for now as temporary living until a larger home can be built. Also I want it to serve as a storm and fallout shelter, so I will want a lot of earth-berming. Later, when the larger home is built, I may want to use it for aquaponics with indoor lighting.
Please send what you can, or something else you may recommend, and how to order your plan.
Thank you so much for this beneficial work you’re doing.
Sincerely,
Robert
Clicked to notify me of new comments. Thanks.
I think this is a real nice design. However, no one has expressed much interest in it until now so I never finished the drawings. Most people want larger designs. Not sure if I’ll ever get around to finishing the plans since few will buy them. Because this design is so small and simple, you could read my ebook and just ‘wing it’ — figure things out on your own. Add a simple sloping roof or roof trusses, etc. And study the free Pit House plans on our Free Plans Page at Natural Building Blog to see the earth berming details.
Owen, thanks. Could your Roundhouse Studio be adapted to an earth berm? With the hill, I’m guessing the back would be about 3′ higher than the front once the ground for the foundation is leveled. I would probably eliminate all but two front windows. Could an additional 2′ to 3′ of earth be bermed’ up around the sides? This would make the earth berm at the back about 5′-6′ deep. Could the walls handle the load? I appreciate your assistance. Thanks, Robert
It should work fine. Just add 3 layers of 6mil black ply plastic (strong) to keep moisture away from the walls. You might even add some cement to these bags just to be sure, and add 1/2″ rebar every 2′ down through the center of the wall. Make sure the earth is well below the window so you don’t get any water pouring in. Also, add a swale upslope to divert water away from the building.
Thanks. I’ll be ordering this drawing.
How would you attach the 3 ml plastic to the bags?
You could tape it in place and carefully backfill. I recommend 2-3 layers of heavy black plastic as shown in my free Solar Pit house plan.