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., Round, tagged earthbag, earthbag apartment, earthbag building, earthbag construction, earthbag roundhouse, earthbag tower, home design, home plan, house plan, roundhouse plan, tower plan on January 22, 2012| 18 Comments »
Rainwater Towers Apartments (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 directed to underground cisterns, which reduces demand on city water supplies. Each apartment is accessible by a spiral staircase in the front tower. Features include spacious 201 sq. ft. bedroom with large closet, modern kitchen 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 floorplan (click to enlarge)
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 Domes, Over 1000 sq. ft., Polygonal (Hexagonal, etc.), tagged 2 bath, 3 bedroom, blueprint, design, dome, dome plan, earth lodge, earthbag, earthbag dome, home design, home plan green home, house plan on December 18, 2011| 66 Comments »
Earthbag Lodge with Domes (click to enlarge)
Earthbag Lodge with Domes (click to enlarge)
Description: A first of its kind earthbag home that captures the timeless and magical appeal of earth sheltering in the round. Based on ancient Native American designs, this modern earth lodge with living roof will keep you cozy and warm even in the harshest climates, because it is compact, earth-sheltered and superinsulated. Heating options include wood heating and/or radiant floor heat. The lodge ceiling is exposed wood poles. South and east-facing windows and skylight over the kitchen ensure ample daylighting in the lodge. Mechanical and bedroom domes are attached with earthbag vaults.
Earthbag Lodge with Domes 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, Misc. structures, Round, tagged castle, castle design, castle plan, earthbag castle, earthbag fort, fort design, fort plan, fortress, fortress design, fortress plan, home design, home plan, house plan, tower, tower design, tower plan on September 11, 2011| 32 Comments »
Earthbag Dome Fort (click to enlarge)
The Dome Fort showcases individual designs and combines them into a self sustaining, fortified homestead, where a group of 5-20 people could weather economic and social upheaval. This is a concept drawing that does not show every possible type of defense. Custom designs can be created to meet your needs.
Structures include:
Roundhouse/Dome Cluster 1,330 sq. ft. interior
2 Fortress Towers 1,717 sq. ft. interior each
Castle Tower House above Survival Shelter 880 sq. ft. interior
Carriage House with second story garage apartment 806 sq. ft. interior
2 Round Guard Towers 227 sq. ft. interior each, plus roof deck
Observation Tower 313 sq. ft. interior, plus roof deck
I’ll be glad to discuss all details, including the below grade structures (not shown), with serious clients who hire me at my hourly consulting fee. All plans can be modified for a modest fee. Send inquires to: strawhouses [at] yahoo.com.
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 2 bedroom, blue print, castle, castle design, castle style, earthbag house, earthbag house plan, home design, home plan, house plan, tower, tower design, tower home plan, tower house plan, tower plan on September 5, 2011| 14 Comments »
Fortress Tower (click to enlarge)
Specifications: 855 sq. ft. interior, 2 bedroom, 1 bath, 855 sq. ft. upper floor, total = 1,717 sq. ft. interior, plus roof deck, Footprint: 36′ diameter
Description: 10 meters (33’) diameter is the maximum size of a round earthbag structure before needing buttressing (unless you use reinforced earthbags). 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.
Fortress Tower (click to enlarge)
Posted in Domes, tagged disaster, disaster resistant, dome, dome blueprint, dome design, dome home, dome house plan, dome plan, earthquake, earthquake resistant, home design, hurricane, hurricane resistant, tiny house, tiny house design, tiny house plan, tornado, tornado resistant on September 4, 2011| 12 Comments »
Disaster-resistant hemispheric dome made with double ferrocement shells with insulating fill (click to enlarge)
The design will have to be tweaked for individual homeowner needs, and some details worked out with the engineer. Note how a woodstove is shown to reach a wider audience, even though it’s probably not needed in Florida. The woodstove could be replaced with an emergency water storage and filtration system, etc. A fold-out bed saves space. Please email me and we’ll work out the details to fit your needs.
Disaster-resistant hemispheric dome made with double ferrocement shells with insulating fill (click to enlarge)
Posted in Over 1000 sq. ft., Rectangular/Square, tagged 2 bedroom, 3 bath, castle, classic, earthba home plan, earthbag, earthbag design, earthbag home, earthbag house, earthbag house plan, European, home design, home plan, house design, house plan, sand bag on August 29, 2011| 5 Comments »
Custom Chonburi (click to enlarge)
Description: This is a larger version of the original Chonburi design that includes two large bedrooms versus three smaller ones (all upstairs for privacy). Master bedroom has private bath. There’s also a pantry, mechanical room, sitting room, arched doorways and large country-style kitchen. Optional cathedral ceiling in master bedroom. The crenellated roof design maintains the classic lines and adds a touch of grandeur. There’s also a large roof deck where you can take in the scenery and cool breezes. This design is part of my Earthbag Castle.
Custom Chonburi Main Floor (click to enlarge)
Custom Chonburi Upper (click to enlarge)
Original Chonburi (624 sq. ft. interior main floor, 624 sq. ft. upper floor, total 1,248 sq. ft. interior, 3 bedroom, 3 bath, Footprint: 27′ x 29′)
Earthbag House Plans 