33′ (10m) Roundhouse - 2 Bedroom (click to enlarge)
Specifications: 855 sq. ft. interior, 2 bedroom, 1 bath, Footprint: 36′ diameter
Description: 10 meters (33’) diameter is the maximum size of a round earthbag structure before needing buttressing. This spacious design features a large master bedroom with desk and walk-in closet, efficient kitchen and south-facing window wall for excellent solar gain.
33′ (10m) Roundhouse - 2 Bedroom (click to enlarge)
33' Roundhouse with Open-air Deck (click to enlarge)
33′ (10m) 2-story Roundhouse with Open-air Arched Doorways
33′ (10m) 2-story Roundhouse with Open-air Arched Doorways
Earthbag House Plans 
[…] Earthbag Roundhouse […]
Where can I purchase these plans? How much are the plans, and do they come with wiring and plumbling rough in? How do I get these plans accepted by my local county?
I would like to use composting toilets, greywater recycling, and any other green method I can for this house.
I drafted my own plans, but haven’t sent them to an engineer for sign off, and when I saw this plan, it was a better design than my own anyway.
Thank you,
Linda Warren
All plans are available through Dream Green Homes.com http://www.dreamgreenhomes.com/materials/earth/earthbags.htm
This plan is at: http://www.dreamgreenhomes.com/plans/2Broundhouse.htm It’s $200, with everything needed to build. Although electrical is not included because local electricians know what to do, and this reduces costs.
All plans are AutoCAD and SketchUp.
Engineering is available through Precision Structural Engineering, Inc.: http://www.structure1.com/ Their prices are very competitive.
Just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed looking at your plans and designs. This roundhouse is really similar to a ‘beach-house’ design that my daughter (8) and I worked on together last year. She’s quite proud of the fact that her ideas aren’t totally wacky! Now I would love to see her plans actually built…
Just a thought or two… You could save a bit of money on the plumbing if you moved the bathroom and laundry around to back against the kitchen. That way, all the plumbing could be along the same wall, with any easy to use access panel and shutoff valve inside. And the use of pocket doors along the interior walls could save you valuable space as far as having to worry about door clearance.
How do you get upstairs?
I love your designs! Lord knows we can’t afford a nice piece of land in town for a couple more years, but I do have a question–
We live in Tucson. Metropolitan area (but not TOO metropolitan) hot most days, hot most nights because the buildings and concrete absorb the heat and release it. It can get cold in the winter (though not much below freezing), but the main issue is the heat. What if we took one of these earthbag designs, let’s say this one with the upper deck that comes with a hatch, and just buried it? Either dig a hole or add a whole bunch of fill dirt and plant desert scrub with deep roots to hold it in place? We’re not likely to find a piece of land with a big ol’ natural hill that we can take advantage of, which is what most of these designs show, and the Solar Pit House, for example, would roast us like ants in a microwave.
We are hoping to build our home ourselves, and adding central AC or greener solutions (deep underground pipes for cooler air, etc) seems . . . intimidating. But we are also concerned that if we buried the house, gravity would make plumbing a challenge. Your thoughts?
Building below grade adds expense and complexity. You don’t have to do that. Keep it simple. Build above grade with about 2′ of earth berming and plants. Use wide roof overhangs or wrap around porches so the sun doesn’t hit the walls. Add plenty of ventilation, tall ceilings, roof vents, etc. as explained in my two blog posts called Passive Cooling Strategies at our Natural Building Blog. Choose about 10 strategies and your home will remain comfortable year round without AC. This has been proven by our earthbag roundhouse in the tropics.
Hey owen, this plan looks ideal for where I’m at. (OAXACA COAST MEXICO). Pretty hot and humid some times. I think having an open second story that can catch the wind would definatly improve comfort. I plan on using earthbags for everything. What material would be best for the floor of the upper deck? Wood seems to get frowned on out here because of termites and salt decay from the sea…I will be fairly close to the sea…any problems you can forsee with that? Thanks for all the mind candy, real fun checking out all these ideas
Yes, this would work great in your area. There are certain types of rot resistant woods. However, they’re getting hard to find and expensive. Where I live this type of wood is only available as old recycled wood from 100 year old houses. Steel is not as sustainable, but it can last a long time if properly painted.