Earthbag Vaulted Guesthouse
Specifications: 273 sq. ft. interior, 1 bedroom, 1 bath, Footprint: 16′ x 30′
Description: Designed to stay cool in hot climates, this Nubian vaulted guesthouse features a pole frame and thatched roof structure that shades the earthbag vault. Additional cooling is provided by breezes that blow across a lily pool. The upper part of the vault is traditional leaning adobe construction. A flagstone patio adds outdoor living space on the east side. Note: this plan is now listed in the free shelter category.
Earthbag House Plans 
[…] This design uses the same floorplan as Earthbag Vaulted Guesthouse. The main difference is the upper part of the vault is constructed with alternating arched layers […]
This looks intresting. is there any photo of one that has been built. As i am browsing for idea of what we are going to build for a bed and breakfast
No one has bought or built this plan. I really like it, but there hasn’t been any interest so far and so I’ve moved on to other things.
i would very much like to find cottege plans for the cottege that was frodos home in the movie lord of the rings .if you look at the movie u will see that that is an actual real home with semi circle archways with turnd spiral rafter cieling supports over the main living area.im guessing the place is under 950sq.ft.i believe the bathroom and kitchen use rv components not seen in movie.the other homes had clerestory window for natural lighting and off the grid electric.if such plans exist i want them.i have tons of river stone i saved over the years to use for such a project for deco doorways n window trimming.when i build it i want it to be in the hobbit home n garden magazine.lol
Hi Owen, I have made the permanent move and will be ready to build in the next three months. I am in south centeral Mexico. High desert with a rainy season. We will be building 7 of your hobbit houses but with porches. They will be esentially bed and bath. We will be using river rock for the foundations and adobe bricks for the rest. As we do have earthquakes here we plan on using cement tie ins. with cement and tile roofs. We need a family kitchen/gathering place. Should the lilly pond be on the south for the best use? We are very excited. How do we make a living roof for the hobbit houses? What is the best method to prevent water issues besides grading away from the house and using river rock in the foundations? Thanks for all your work and wonderful imagination! Please advise me the process of buying the two plans.
Sounds like an interesting project — the beginning of a real Hobbit community.
Plans can be ordered from Dream Green Homes: http://www.dreamgreenhomes.com/materials/earth/earthbags.htm
There are two parts to the foundation: rubble trench and gravel filled polypropylene bags. You could also use old tires filled with gravel on the first two courses or so. The gravel bags or tires sit directly on the rubble trench. The adobes can be stacked right on top of this.
I highly recommend using mesh on both sides of the wall tied together with poly cord or baling twine. Our Natural Building Blog has a good article about a study in Peru that concluded this is the #1 most effective way to increase earthquake resistance. This free report is like gold (lessons learned from decades of testing and research). http://naturalbuildingblog.com/low-cost-reinforcement-of-earthen-houses-in-seismic-areas/
It’s better to use lightweight roofs if possible. Thatch and metal roofing are two good options.
Lily pond: Put the pond between the house and prevailing wind. The wind will blow over the pond and through your house. This is extremely effective. You can add plants around and above the pond so the water stays cool. Use casement windows that swing out to capture breezes and pull them into the house. Our blog has dozens of other passive cooling techniques (just search this phrase).
Living roofs only work in ideal climates. Most often they will fail. Research this option carefully.
Hi Owen! I’ve been enjoying and getting amused about your projects. Thank you so much for sharing your time and knowledge.
I’ve been trying to find one project that can fit better for building Community Schools. I already have some ideas about light (using of pet bootles – with water + chlorine inside – that get through the roof). But I dont know which plan is better for this purpose, and which is the best kind of roof for it. We have some projects in Zambia, building community schools. I’ll be glad if you can share a bit more of your experience telling us what is the plan more suitable for us. Thank you very much again!
I recommend roundhouses for many reasons. See this article: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Roundhouse/
There’s lots more info on our Natural Building Blog http://naturalbuildingblog.com/
Hi Owen
You mention above that living roofs only work in “ideal” climates. What is your definition of ideal?
How about tropical 17 – 31%C with 1500 mm annual rainfall with no month getting less than 50 mm?
I am thinking of it for a large kitchen in an eco-lodge – expandable with no fire risk.and possibly designed to harvest rainwater. Looks a lot better than CI sheets as well.
You can grow a herb garden on it as well!
Thanks
I should have said “suitable climates” to be more precise. Your climate sounds very good for living roofs. You still need to climb on the roof to take care of it though. Gardening is a lot of work. It’s that much harder up on a roof. I would lean toward using hearty, low maintenance plants. Also note, the hardest part is getting the living roof started. Choose a month when your garden does well (mild temperature, not too much rain, not too little).