Posted in Rectangular/Square, tagged cordwood, cordwood house plan, cordwood plan, earthbag, earthbag house plan, earthbag plan, home design, home plan, two bedroom on June 22, 2012| 12 Comments »
This cordwood house could be built with earthbags, straw bales or other sustainable materials. (click to enlarge)
Description: This simple yet practical home plan is shown with cordwood walls. The same house can be made with earthbags, straw bales, adobe, stone and other materials.
Cordwood house floorplan (click to enlarge)
Posted in Over 1000 sq. ft., Rectangular/Square, tagged 3 bedroom, earthbag, earthbag house, earthbag plan, energy efficient, green, green home, home plan, house plan, straw bale, straw bale house, straw bale plan, sustainable on March 23, 2012| 29 Comments »
Custom Crow (click to enlarge)
Description: One of my favorites, this design has a cathedral ceiling over the main living space, wood stove, passive solar design and large porch on the west to block the hot afternoon sun. There is a large loft over the bedrooms and bath. This new version has three bedrooms. The original Crow house design has two bedrooms.
Custom Crow floorplan (click to enlarge)
Posted in Over 1000 sq. ft., Round, tagged affordable, apartment, apartment plan, earthbag building, earthbag design, earthbag plan, green, sustainable, tower, tower design, tower plan on February 4, 2012| 20 Comments »
Rainwater Towers Apartments 2 (click to enlarge)
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)
Over 130 designs at Earthbag House Plans
Rainwater Towers Apartments 1
Posted in Free shelter designs, Rectangular/Square, tagged affordable, earthbag house, earthbag plan, free, green home, home design, home plan, house plan, one bath, one bedroom, small, tiny on December 20, 2011| 43 Comments »
Free Economizer Earthbag House Plan (click to enlarge)
Description: This plan is designed to be compact and efficient. Most houses this size do not have as many features — washer/dryer, wood stove, and modern kitchen and bath. There are even two closets. An archway separates the bedroom from the main living area, yet maintains a sense of privacy with a room divider. Note: this plan is listed in the free shelter category.
Free Economizer Earthbag House Floorplan (click to enlarge)
Posted in Over 1000 sq. ft., Round, tagged blueprint, earthbag, earthbag building, earthbag house, earthbag plan, earthbag roundhouse, green building, green design, green home, home design, home plan, house plan, round house, round house plan, roundhouse, roundhouse design, roundhouse house plan, sustainable on October 18, 2011| 22 Comments »
Three Roundhouses Design (click to enlarge)
The Three Roundhouses design combines:
– Hobbit House (starter house in this design): 471 sq. ft. interior, optional 471 sq. ft. loft, one bedroom, one bath, Footprint: 27′-6″ diameter
– Roundhouse Studio (master bedroom in this design): 177 sq. ft. interior, fold-out bed, 1 bath, Footprint: 18′ diameter, plus buttress
– 33’ (10m) Roundhouse: 855 sq. ft. interior, 1 bedroom, 1 bath, Footprint: 36′ diameter
Total living space: 1,503 sq. ft. interior
Three Roundhouses Design (click to enlarge)
Posted in Domes, tagged blueprint, catenary dome, disaster resisant, dome design, dome home, dome plan, earthbag, earthbag dome, earthbag dome plan, earthbag plan, hurricane proof, hurricane resistant, tornado proof, tornado resistant on September 19, 2011| 12 Comments »
Disaster Resistant Catenary Dome (click to enlarge)
Description: Catenary arches and domes are among the strongest forms in nature. This catenary dome is designed to withstand repeat hurricanes and other natural disasters. It is similar in construction to the Hemispheric Dome, but the Catenary Dome has a sleeping loft. Tilt-down stairs are shown, although you could make a single bathroom door and add a ladder to one side. This would give you more space in the loft.
Disaster Resistant Catenary Dome (click to enlarge)
Posted in Misc. structures, Over 1000 sq. ft., tagged castle plan, castle style, castle tower, disaster resistant, earthbag castle, earthbag design, earthbag home plan, earthbag house plan, earthbag plan, fortified, fortress, home design, home plan, house design on September 9, 2011| 34 Comments »
Earthbag Castle (click to enlarge)
Earthbag Castle summary:
– The castle consists of four structures – Custom Chonburi main residence, Two-story Roundhouse Above Survival Shelter guesthouse/office, Carriage House with second floor garage apartment, Guard Tower tool shed.
– All structures include a waterproof roof deck with ladder access and crenellations capped with cement or geopolymer
– All structures are also available with more standard roof designs at no extra charge (example: trussed gable roofs).
– Renewable energy systems not shown, but there is ample roof space for solar panels, solar water heaters and wind generators
– Due to a lack of protective roof overhangs, this castle is best suited to dry climates, although a reader pointed out how similar castles have stood the test of time in European climates.
– All plans can be modified for a modest fee. Just email me at strawhouses [at] yahoo.com.
Posted in Round, tagged castle design, castle style, earthbag castle, earthbag house plan, earthbag plan, earthbag tower, guest house, guest house plan, house design, shelter plan, subterranean shelter, survival shelter, tower design, tower plan, underground survival shelter, watch tower on September 3, 2011| 2 Comments »
Castle Tower House (click to enlarge)
Specifications: 20’ DIA roundhouse, 314 sq. ft. interior first floor, 252 sq. ft. interior loft, 314 sq. ft. interior survival shelter plus pantry), 880 total square foot interior, Footprint: 23′ DIA, 23′ x 31′ survival shelter
Description: Every castle worth its name has to have at least one underground survival shelter. In this case it’s underneath the Tower House. It’s prudent to have a safe place to go to in case of emergencies, and what better place than your basement. Hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards and other natural disasters are all too common. While others panic and run for last minute preparations, you can calmly retreat to your basement (through a hidden trap door) that’s wisely stocked with everything you need to ride out the disaster.
More details on the Earthbag Survival Shelter that’s also sold separately (an excellent starter project and one of my most popular designs).
Posted in Misc. structures, Rectangular/Square, tagged blue print, castle, castle design, castle style, earthbag design, earthbag plan, earthbag tower, earthbag tower plan, tower design, tower plan on September 3, 2011| 3 Comments »
Guard Tower (click to enlarge)
Description: The Guard Tower is part of my Earthbag Castle that should be completed soon. The Guard Tower serves as a tool shed and observation tower in ‘peaceful’ times. It could also function as a small dwelling for workers.
Guard Tower (click to enlarge)
Posted in Misc. structures, Rectangular/Square, tagged blue print, carraige house, carriage house plan, castle, castle design, castle style, earthbag design, earthbag plan, garage apartment, garage apartment design, garage apartment plan, garage house plan, garage plan on September 3, 2011| 12 Comments »
Carriage House (click to enlarge)
Description: This two car garage has space on the second floor for a garage apartment. The roof design can be altered at no extra charge. As shown, it’s part of my Earthbag Castle.
Carriage House (click to enlarge)
Earthbag House Plans 