Environment

Man Builds Fairy Tale Home for His Family – For Only £3,000

December 21, 2011 by admin in Environment, Featured, Misc. with 661 Comments

Simon Dale is a family man in Wales, the western part of Great Britain. His interest in self-sustainability and an ecological awareness led him to dig out and build his own home—one of the loveliest, warmest, most inviting dwellings you could ever imagine. And it cost him only £3,000, about $4,700 American dollars!

Can you imagine a more charming entrance than this?

Simon gives two reasons for building the home. The first elegant one, from his website, is:

It’s fun. Living your own life, in your own way is rewarding. Following our dreams keeps our souls alive.

His second reason is a plea for sustainability, in which he states that “our supplies are dwindling and our planet is in ecological catastrophe”. You can read the full and passionate statement here.

Simon is also a photographer, and as you can see throughout this article, a talented one.

A beautiful view in another home that Simon is helping build for someone else. (Originally, this was mistakenly identified as a photo of the home he and his family are living in.)

The tools are fairly simple. The main concession to modernity was a chainsaw, which he used to cut down about 30 small trees. No old growth forest fell to his family’s needs. He focused on tools that used his own energy, like shovel, chisel, and hammer. Yet it took him only four months to produce this lovely home.

The home is constructed from wood, stone, straw, and has a sod roof. It’s heated with a wood fireplace and has a solar panel for power. Most materials were scavenged and refurbished appliances. The effect, though, isn’t of a run-down get-by-with-second-best . It’s creative, artistic, elegant, and cozy. It is, in fact, magical.

Most amazingly, the home didn’t require years of training or experience. Simon had none. He’s not an architect. He’s not an engineer. He’s not a carpenter. He started from scratch in every sense. He told the Daily Mail:

Being your own have-a-go architect is a lot of fun and allows you to create and enjoy something which is part of yourself and the land rather than, at worst, a mass-produced box designed for maximum profit and the convenience of the construction industry.

Building from natural materials does away with producers’ profits and the cocktail of carcinogenic poisons that fill most modern buildings.

He was fortunate in obtaining the land for his home. The plot, a bit of a large piece, was given to him in exchange for its caretaking.

Simon Dale, his wife Jasmine Saville, and their two children in front of their completed home just 4 months after starting it! This and all photos on this page are by Simon Dale (http://simondale.net).

The attention to making the home eco-friendly extends to a compost toilet, the use of straw over a plastic layer for insulation, and a refrigerator that’s cooled with air that flows from under the home’s foundation. Cement is a high carbon emitter, so the interior walls are finished with lime plaster instead of cement plaster.

Simon is now involved in building another home for the Lammas Project, an organization dedicted to low-impact building. Focus is not only on the homes themselves, but also on planting trees and gardens, and on low impact living in general. Here’s how he sums up his view on his home and the Lammas Project:

This building is one part of a low-impact or permaculture approach to life. This sort of life is about living in harmony with both the natural world and ourselves, doing things simply and using appropriate levels of technology. These sort of low cost, natural buildings have a place not only in their own sustainability, but also in their potential to provide affordable housing which allows people access to land and the opportunity to lead more simple, sustainable lives.

I cannot imagine a home more lovely, appealing, and livable than this one. This could be and should be the wave of the future in home building.

For more information about Simon Dale’s home, plans, and more photos, please go to his website, A Low Impact Woodland Home.

Tagged beautiful ecological home, eco friendly home, ecological home, ecological living, ecology, environment, Hobbit Home, inexpensive ecological home, simon dale, sustainable home, wale sustainable home, wales eco home

http://www.facebook.com/people/Pamela-Borden/100002975691072 Pamela Borden

What a lovely fairy tale home! I want one!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kim-Tebbutt/1094709828 Kim Tebbutt

Beautiful, Mystical, Magical, Loving, Joy filled, Peaceful, Creative, Inspiring and Delightful! I am sure I saw a Unicorn looking in through a window!
http://www.facebook.com/tonnie69 Tonnie Grunhard

YOUR HOME IS AMAZING AND ENCHANTING!!!! I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT YOU DIDN’T HAVE ANY HOME BUILDING EXPERIENCE PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTING THIS UNIQUE AND GORGEOUS HOME. I AM AMAZED. IT IS GORGEOUS.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1310709761 Shehryar Khan

Oh my god, I am stunned! I want to make one to now!
http://www.facebook.com/nicolscott Nicole Scott

So simple, amazing…. perfect. Yes, I want one too. Very impressed with wanting to live greener. Imagine if all homes were like this.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ketty-Walter-Ben-Elazar/100001699351705 Ketty Walter Ben Elazar

very impressed ,peaceful,green….delightful….
http://www.facebook.com/Tarebear216 Tara Bryant

this is amazing..
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1720068218 Alison Michelle

OMGOSH THIS IS AWESOME!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jasper-Knight/544359047 Jasper Knight

Do you have to get planning permission for something like this? I’ve been applying for 4 years to build a house out of hempcrete, with geothermal heating, a well and solar panels and every year I get rejected. Yet some how Galliard homes got permission on a piece of greenbelt land half a mile away… It’s ridiculous!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Randy-Hafiz-Neu/1121172926 Randy Hafiz Neu

Absolutely wonderful!
nathalie gerbex

its so beautifull… i will have this house. realy nice!
Greats Nathalie
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1516755105 Peggy Ann Huey Peters

Love the home and materials used. My husband and I have been looking into building our own home for the same reasons, that and the low yearly cost of having a home such as this. Trying to be better stewards of all our resources.I only wish Simon could come to Michigan and build us a house like this, it would meet all our wildest dreams. Come on Simon are you up to it?
- Anonymous
  
  There are many people in the USA doing this sort of building. Just Google “cob house” and you will find them. Good luck to you, and best wishes for a beautiful home.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Brenda-Dyer/712340473 Brenda Dyer

I really love your home Its absolutely amazing Well done you
its a home one only dreams of I know your all going to be happy and who wouldn’t living in such a beautiful home like yours :}
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000379008901 May Mickelow

I have about 30 acres in British Columbia, Canada, this would be a super addition to the land its self, I already know the land is highly productive, food wise, water available, trees aglore in area, only thing missing would be lime….but available in southern part of province.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=559806206 Dawn Vickers

Wow, that’s just amazing! So beautiful and enchanting! I would LOVE a home like this!!
http://www.facebook.com/susanna.bearfoot Susanna Bearfoot

I have a yurt on a field owned by my family but have been thinking recently of building into the ground rather than perching on top of it. Your home looks wonderful and answers every question about wether it is possible to build and live sustainably.
http://twitter.com/AndyLeeNLP Andrew Lee

What an inspiration!!! Thanks for publishing this its the best thing I’ve seen on the web for a long long time..
http://www.facebook.com/rebekah.higgins Rebekah Higgins

In the states, “nuisance enforcers” are forcing people who live off the grid off their land for any kind of ridiculous code violation they can think of or because of neighbor complaints…when there are no neighbors. I want to build but am afraid of this happening…how are things in the UK?
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1323934845 Perry Way
  
  I’m totally with you Rebekah on this. I own a piece of property I’d like to do this sort of thing on but afraid of the county government (San Luis Obispo) who in some cases are actually acting illegal (using their laws) by harassing people for so much as a horse fence or a chicken coop without a permit but their is no requirement for permits for fencing or chicken coops unless you’re talking about a huge farm thing, then they have those stupid laws for those things. I am against all laws governing people over what they can or can’t do on their own property. You can’t legislate fairness. But you can judge fairness and that’s where things should go is in court, when there’s some grievance over property rights like someone makes a toxic spill that affects your land, you should have some judicial avenue to pursue but you can’t make laws against people doing things like building their own homes or whatnot. With that said, I’m most likely going to build a tiny home disguised as a garden shed out of wood. Just so it looks like everything else and just sort of disappears. If I were to make it out of cob or rammed earth, why that would attract attention and they would more than likely scrutinize my “illegal” activities.
Pingback: Man Builds Fairy Tale Home for His Family – For Only £3,000 (AMAZING) « shiftingtheparadigm
http://www.facebook.com/people/Yvonne-Howard-Shaw/100000825845188 Yvonne Howard Shaw

my husband said, the trouble is, every fortnight you’d have to get up on the roof & mow the lawn. lol!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Yvonne-Howard-Shaw/100000825845188 Yvonne Howard Shaw

i wonder about probable roof/ceiling rot from the dampness of the grass/soil?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Yvonne-Howard-Shaw/100000825845188 Yvonne Howard Shaw

i love it. so beautiful!
Wayne Halliday

How sustainable would it be if every person/family decided to cut down thirty trees and have wood fires, the idea is good for small population but the size of the world population it would be unsustainable…
- Anonymous
  
  the average home uses 60 to 100 + large trees , so thirty small trees is a inprovement . I also burn wood for heat and never cut live trees for fuel , only dead and fallen trees are used . Do you think fuel oil or elect from a coal power plant are better choices ?
  - Hapless Scientist
    
    Not even close! If you work out the lumber in an average home it is nowhere near 60 to 100 large trees. It is more like 5 or 6 trees.
    
    According to the Journal of Construction Education, a standard 1500 square foot, 3-bedroom, one-story gable house with slab-on-grade foundation in Florida (building codes make a difference) takes about 400 board feet of lumber.
    
    According to a paper authored by David B South (Professor School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Auburn University, AL), a typical 10 year old Southern Pine might have a diameter at breast height of 10 in and height of 53.5 ft.
    
    According to the About:Lumber timber calculator, using the above Southern Pine, we would get about 75 board feet (using the International Rule) per tree.
    
    So it would take around 5.3 of these trees to build the house we described above.
    
    Source(s):
    Journal of Construction Education:
    A Comparison Between Steel and Wood Residential
    Framing Systems
    S. Abdol Chini and Kavita Gupta
    University of Florida
    Gainesville, FL
    
    South, David B. – “Planting longleaf pine at wide spacings”,
    Native Plants Journal – Volume 7, Number 1, Spring 2006, pp. 79-88
    
    Tools for Running Tree and Lumber Calculations
    By Steve Nix
Jim Kladder

Funny they don’t look like hobbits.
- bboy cult
  
  you stole my joke!
- http://www.facebook.com/VirulentWaif James Ayers
  
  Vertically un-challenged hobbits?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=626117441 Maryjane Mij Johnson

wow! stunning… how fantastic! Big Bravo ~<3~
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=544387414 Thozi Nomvete

Looks like the age-old rondavel to me!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Shirley-Warren/100000658451518 Shirley Warren

He can build me a home anytime!!! Love it!!!!
Anonymous

What a wonderful home!
Anonymous

Beautiful, innovative, sustainable. Congratulations Simon! It would be great to learn more about how you created this home. I’ll follow the link to your site!
http://twitter.com/cajacobson CJ

Love the home, but is there no bathroom?
- Anonymous
  
  It isn’t shown, but it does have a composting toilet. However, there doesn’t appear to be a bathtub. Maybe later?
  - Mike Mueller
    
    Notice the pond on the map at the lower right corner
http://www.facebook.com/suzannewaite Suzanne Waite

He is an artist. Absolutely lovely. I want one!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001657106933 Frank Groves

Absolutely Awesome! I would love to live in such a quaint home! )
Anonymous

I love it but i would need 3 bedrooms and a bathroom But it is great if i could have a house like that i would!!!
http://www.facebook.com/SandraReaMcGinty Sandra Rea

When can I move in?
Lori Hall

Absolutely ingenious and beautiful!! Grand Kudos to Mr. Dale and his sweet family!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1151905383 Yolanda Estrada Muñoz

wow…that is amazing…using the land instead of killing it…
http://www.facebook.com/people/Scott-Daniels/596186146 Scott Daniels

Kudos from a carpenter. I’ve spent my life building custom homes for people and yours is more beautiful than anything I’ve ever made.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ryan-Smithlol/671170551 Ryan Smithlol

lul… probably funded by environmentalists wanting to make a statement but not move haha
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001237713626 John Johnson
  
  Actually he built the house himself. He bought the land himself. He cleared the land. He used the tree from the land that he cut down. The only help he got was from people helping him with the construction.
http://www.facebook.com/ruthgerlich Ruth Prins

Just love it. Great work ! Thanxx for sharing. That’s the spirit.
X Spectra
http://twitter.com/OccupyInspire Occupy Inspire

Wow, this totally inspired me. Thanks, i would love to know more a bout how you built this!
- Anonymous
  
  Check out A Low Impact Woodland Home, Simon Dale’s website. It has more photos & quite a bit of info about the building. Also, you might be interested in The Lammas Project, where Simon gives a lot of his effort in making such homes a reality.
  
  He is inspiring, isn’t he!
http://www.facebook.com/numbah10luxord Michael Christian

it reminds me of a hobbit hole and I want one really bad now lol
Anonymous

It’s ok, not my type at all . But I’m glad most people find it pretty. Simon did a great job.
http://www.facebook.com/barry.pyne1 Barry Pyne

so wonderful and very inspiring
http://www.facebook.com/elaine.parent Elaine Parent

Would love one similar.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001237713626 John Johnson

Cob architecture folks look it up. There are websites all over the internet about it. Cob is one of the oldest building materials know to man. If done properly Cob can last for hundreds of years. This house is a diy dream and cob is the way to do it.
http://twitter.com/pyaani ananya sinha

What to say. Simon is a true genius. i would love to have a home like this, some day. inspiring.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=578404292 Judy Owen Irrera

Looks like something out of Avatar
http://www.facebook.com/antoinette.giesen Antoinette Giesen

Wow! A Hobbit house. It is indead a real dreamhouse. Who doesn’t want to live in that and within such a beautiful nature. It is a privelage isn’t ?But a good example for maybe into the future. That all the people on earth can build and degign their own houses, have their own land and have their own havest. Live a life as a free man in harmony and peace with the earth,family,friends and above all with God. Bless you beautiful lovely people ~3*AÑA*<3~
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ed-Lozada/100001216659908 Ed Lozada

I would like to make a house like this. What did you use to waterproof the roof and the walls? Walls that are made next the the ground usually seeps water. Did you use anything to prevent termites from destroying your house. Termites is a big problem here in Palo, Leyte, Philippines.
http://www.facebook.com/recy.kypri Recy Kypri

I love your home, so special, something I have never seen before. I would love one just like yours, wishing you much happiness always. Love Recy Australia
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1368412972 Carl de Malmanche

Whats his hourly rate……
http://www.facebook.com/people/عبدالعزيز-المالكي/100002105522892 عبدالعزيز المالكي

I would come if you invite me

lol
http://www.facebook.com/bbaum1 Becky Baum

This is awesome. What a great gift you have.. So pleasing to the eye and I am sure a joy to live in. God Bless you….
Paula Robbins

I love it. He is a very talented man. It would be a comforting place to wake up to each morning. Makes me jealous. You are truly blessed.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=566619436 Ranjna Sharma

I would love to have a home like this!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/rickstonemusic Rick Stone

This is the kind of house I fantasized about building when I was younger. I still have a bunch of books on this that I got in the 70s (“The Craftsman Builder” and “Woodstock Handmade Houses” being two of the most memorable ones). Glad to see somebody still chasing the dream. Beautiful and amazing!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Shelly-Walksinsunshine-Barker/1501220155 Shelly Walksinsunshine Barker

Looks like a fairy tale home, luv it, so in tune with nature….namaste

Walks In Sunshine
(Native American)
http://www.facebook.com/people/Bruce-Campbell/1103543944 Bruce Campbell

The only question I have is, where is the bathroom? Otherwise, I love it.
- Amplidudes Records
  
  You should be a woman, don’t you?
- http://www.facebook.com/pamelajudd60 Pamela Judd
  
  i was wondering same thing,were is bathroom,love it otherwise
  - Anonymous
    
    so yeah, where is the bathroom? Might seem l like a silly question but where do you “go”…
http://www.facebook.com/jackiefilbee Jackie Smithies

this could be good for you Pia xx
http://www.facebook.com/wendy.tobiassen Wendy Tobiassen

Wonderful. inspiring and gives me great hope for what is possible for a more harmonious way of being in this life. Thank you.
Anonymous

It’s like the hobbits houses out of Lord of the Rings the way it’s been designed fantastic , credit to you, if we all lived in houses like this we would all be debt free with no mortgages brilliant ))
http://www.facebook.com/fabienagitato Fabien Agitato

great great …………love it …compliment my dear is really somtehing !!!!!!…….thank’s to show around …
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jamal-Mohmed/663730590 Jamal Mohmed

Yeah yeah it looks pretty, that’s no reason to automatically love it and wish you had it. Think about it, as aesthetically pleasing at it may be, it doesn’t look structurally sound for shit. This is why engineers and architects are utilized, for longevity of the structure. Saying he did it all by hand is going to come back to bite him in the ass after a few heavy rain/snowfalls and that piece of shit collapses via weight, dead dry branches, or a host of other possibilities. There are reasons you employ PROFESSIONAL help, and I encourage no one to move their family into a home made structure without such, it’s simply dangerous.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Robert-Howells/1223413855 Robert Howells
  
  All live-in buildings must comply to building regulations. The use of wood in the round makes the structure much stronger than it would be with the equivalent mass -produced timbers.
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/Jamal-Mohmed/663730590 Jamal Mohmed
    
    As I said above already, if he claims to have no help from engineers, who are the ones that employ the regulations, then he may not have even gotten permits for it in the first place which means not having to comply. Also, what proof is there that these particular pieces of branches, however aged, weathered, or whatever species they may be, hold up to the traditional timber that comes in many options (size, how you use them, type of wood, STRENGTH, etc)? That sounds like an inexperienced claim personally and I’d like further explanation.
    - http://twitter.com/branram Brandon Ramkey
      
      I agree with all your statements, Jamal. I certainly wouldn’t want to be inside this dwelling during an earthquake. I also noticed this places has no running water — no sink in the kitchen, no shower or toilet… call me crazy, but I think this is more of a gimmick than an actual place they are living. Nice visual for photographs, not really a place you’d ever live.
- Anonymous
  
  You’re right. The human race is so lucky to have had architects and engineers for the last 5 million years. We never would have made it otherwise.
- http://twitter.com/jruddy99 John Ruddy
  
  You may not be aware, but all dwellings in the UK have to comply with building regulations, which include structural integrity. He will have had to have the design certified by an engineer, and the planning authorities would also have to be satisfied that the materials he has used will be able to meet all regulations in the same way that standard building materials do.
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/Jamal-Mohmed/663730590 Jamal Mohmed
    
    I understand building regulations completely, therein lies the problem though because my assumption was since he claims to have had NO help from anyone I figured that meant he probably didn’t get the proper permits for it in the first place, especially having only completed in 4 months with no experience. Thinking about it, what would be the regulation for branches acting as support beams? Seems like that’d be hard to enforce. Just assumptions though, like my assumption of the structural integrity from pictures alone.
    - Anonymous
      
      I’m not sure about building codes where you live, but where I live really crappy building meet code all the time. The codes where I live provide for some safety and integrity, but little in longevity and nothing in efficiency and sustainability.
      
      This guy probably will have to repair and modify, but he is clearly skilled and definitely up to the task. I think that he deserves admiration for his ingenuity, tenacity, planning and intentions.
      
      We currently have no clue about how we will house the next billion people – or the billion after that. People like this man, through all of their trials and errors, provide hope of finding better ways to house people. It will not be driven by mere conformity to bureaucracy.
      - http://www.facebook.com/people/Jamal-Mohmed/663730590 Jamal Mohmed
        
        Very true, I also commend his environmentally appealing approach. Although no chemicals means no preservation and many vulnerabilities such as termites and general decomposition, so as you stated many repairs and much up-keeping will be needed. But, I do see a polished wood floor, so maybe he did use some preserving agents and just said otherwise. I guess there’s just a lack of details that I’m interested in a as a construction worker. You are right though about not knowing what’s in store for the future, many people may need to be imparted with the knowledge of building their own dwelling in these unpredictable times, that’s definitely very true.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Jamal-Mohmed/663730590 Jamal Mohmed
  
  To clarify, having personally helped build many wealthy family’s houses without permits and thus unregulated, I made an assumption that by “no help” he also meant he applied for no permits so he also wouldn’t have to deal with regulations. Otherwise, an engineer would have had to have part in it, as they inspect homes for their structural safety, at least where I’m from.
- Anonymous
  
  Simon works with the Lammas Project, which works with the Welsh government.
  
  You should investigate before making such trash statements. Your belief that only those who have been certified in a craft can be capable of performing in that craft is the sort of groveling attitude that’s gotten our world into the disastrous state it’s in.
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/Jamal-Mohmed/663730590 Jamal Mohmed
    
    I don’t see how you align me suggesting professional help for a structure you’re putting your family into with the current world crisis. It’s a completely immature insult on par with the “trashing” you accused me of. Bravo, way to employ the very attitude you despise.
    
    I did little research, not enough obviously because I couldn’t find many details. My statement was to encourage people against doing things without professional help, there’s a reason we have engineers, and if you ask any one I bet they’d agree there’s a far more likely risk of a dangerous incident in this house opposed to any other structure done with a team of professional tradesmen. This one guy is a rare exception for being able to build his house with his knowledge and skill alone, unfortunately I can only hope (though doubt) that anyone inspired will do the same to obtain the knowledge. I still refuse to believe anything like this could be structurally more sound than modern construction and technology, hence the entire reason we have it.
    
    Sorry for being speculative in a brash manner I guess, but not really, I don’t care.
    - Anonymous
      
      He’s a rare exception only because he decided to take it on.
      
      I suppose I am, too, because I installed a modern-style fireplace in a modern-style home all by myself, knowing nothing about how to do it on starting. I passed the inspections and had a gorgeous fireplace that increased my home’s value enormously and gave me many years of pleasure and warmth. No expert worked on it.
      
      You trashed the guy – presumed that his house would come apart in rain and basically that the house is a piece of junk.
      
      Doing it yourself does NOT mean that you aren’t getting the needed information, which is exactly what you’ve implied.
      
      As to my comment about your attitude being what’s gotten the world into such bad shape, I stand by it. People handing over their autonomy to so-called experts has resulted in obscenely bloated and costly building requirements and accepting a medical system that does more harm than good, among other things.
      
      Nope, you didn’t do the research, but the links needed were included in the article. You presumed what the reality of the building process was and condemned without knowing the truth or bothering to find out – without even bothering to read the article.
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1109477974 Jason Cobb
      
      Jamal, You ain’t gotta be a tradesman…you can be a chef, teacher, accountant, lawn keeper, clerk, any “educated idiot” or any one of the masses who just gets Mathematics and Numbers. Or maybe you’re just a redneck, like me, that finds this as a camper’s wet dream! Twice monthly and three full weeks a year I camp…just me, my dog, my tent and a few essentials. That’s the connection that keeps me from wanting to stab people and make soups out of their internal organs. Did I mention, I’m a redneck chef as well. It’s simply the innovation of primative camping taken to a very high extreme AND I LOVE IT!!! Maybe I found my life’s next UPGRADE!!!
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1537772429 Kelly Ibelieve In-freedom
  
  hmmm you say this yet buildings made before the modern day red tape and regulations last a damn sight longer than modern day structures , just look at ancient buildings around the world for evidence and ohh guess what – they were built by hand without modern day machinery and such – thousands before us lived and survived in homes built by hands why not now and enjoy the fact its not full of toxins etc????
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/Jamal-Mohmed/663730590 Jamal Mohmed
    
    Because us in the modern day have the same knowledge as those in the ancient times that built their long lasting structures, right?
    
    Polished wood floor: toxin.
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1537772429 Kelly Ibelieve In-freedom
      
      well the knowledge is getting drowned out by all the silly ass red tape lol x
http://www.facebook.com/darleen.foreman Darleen Foreman

what a phenomenal idea, now Simon will become very wealthy financially, it’s clear he’s already there spiritually.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=566619436 Ranjna Sharma

I still want it
http://www.facebook.com/people/Rande-Wagner/1084489908 Rande Wagner

Absolutely Lovely! I’m a carpenter/home-builder, & this exceeds any ‘box’ I learned to build ~ I’d LOVE to build something like this to live in!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Rande-Wagner/1084489908 Rande Wagner

Why? Seriously, WHY? His life savings in the pockets of regulators, engineers, “planning authorities” ? Satisfy you? His intent is to satisfy his family’s need, not your wallet.
Anonymous

So where is the bathroom for my state of the art shower system my curling iorn and straightener, the big screen tv..the computers the dishwasher the microwave..and where am i supposed to park my SUV ..huh ???
http://www.facebook.com/karla.finney Karla Finney

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!! What a fabulous imagination mixed with incredible ingenuity! I can’t wait for your next en devour, for you know this has JUST opened the door…
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JUF2QQUCO5EE5OZMHNJSASCEKU Tim Dempsey

My question is, will he make it to Mordor with the ring?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Tom-Patterson/1607066534 Tom Patterson

Okay, he wouldn’t use cement because of the carbon footprint, but there’s a layer of plastic around it?
- Anonymous
  
  Nothing’s perfect. Finding that one point on which his design isn’t perfect is rather small.
- Anonymous
  
  Parse much? ;o) Come on, this place is amazing!
Anonymous

My boy and I absolutely love it. Looks so like a fairy dwelling – and even more I love that it is so eco conscious. What an inspiration. Is he available to build in the USA?
Anonymous

Smart, creative, thoughtful to the environment…wish I could get him to build me one on our family’s 20 acres…the home I live in is mouldy, poorly constructed, leaky roof, rotten floor joists, torn up septic field, septic tank quite damaged, the house is making all of us sick.
Anonymous

The house is like a fairy tail to me.
http://www.facebook.com/DynamiteHoney Linda Berroth-Linderman

I think it’s beautiful
http://www.lorettaparaguassu.blogspot.com/ Loretta Paraguassu

Congratulations on a very beautiful home that is kind to the earth and comfortable at the same time. Simon Dale, you are extremely talented. I live in a conventional home that doesn’t hold a candle to what you have created. It’s problematical and expensive to maintain. You are so right in the direction you have gone. My father had always wanted to build his own home. If he were alive, I do believe he would be building something similar to yours.
Anonymous

I am glad that house is eco but…i wonder how
to make it.
Anonymous

Beautiful! To live in a place like that is a dream. This young man has a wonderful creativity that so many lack today dependent on “modern” when enough is all we need really!
Anonymous

I can’t imagine bringing trees into a home without some sort of treatment for bugs etc. Aside from that thought, I applaud this architecture and envy it.
Anonymous

Yes. I would love to live the adventurous life in that house.
Anonymous

That wide window with a view into ‘Simon and Jasmine’s garden’ is not this house. If you go to their website you will see it’s from another home they’re building for themselves on another property.
- Anonymous
  
  Thank you, Sandra. You’re right – I’m going to change the caption now.
http://www.facebook.com/ParentingPartners Susan Putman

Lovely, lovely place for those little ones to grow up in. What a beautiful world!
http://twitter.com/RavenDan968 Daniel Young

That is awesome!!!
http://twitter.com/RavenDan968 Daniel Young

That is awesome!!!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ilija-Aralica/1410489416 Ilija Aralica

This is really comming from Fairy Tale…I wonder if there is smo dworf comming out of it. However, I think that most important is that this family fulfilled theor dream, and that they did it with their hands !
http://www.e-crm.co.uk Jim Bath

This man is my new hero.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001788726121 Carol Page

Wonderful!!!
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http://www.facebook.com/phototherapyuk Mark Wheeler

2 hours ago Jamal Mohmed was debating with various others about building regs/ permits/zoning etc. For pedants out there, Wales has no reported problems with termites, Devon/Cornwall is the only UK area climatically suitable for these little critters to be a problem and I can assure you all, Wales is too cold & wet (except the glorious Mumbles peninsula). The UK is actually less detail regulated on buildings than many states in the USA, but as someone with no formal qualifications in building design/construction but the new owner of my last house conversion entered it into TV’s “May The Best House Win” and then won I can only admire Simon’s wonderful home and his superb skills. Well done, I too aspire to increasingly vernacular and ecologically sound living… Simon sets the pace!
- http://unconsciouslycompetent.blogspot.com Peter Cadoret
  
  I was wondering, most sustainable housing around here need steel or structural lumber because it is easy for the permit inspector to understand… So many people have tried to do something like this only to be forced to add unnecessary structural components.
  
  I thought the UK would have been just as permit crazy…
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Anonymous

Absolutely brilliant. I wanna do ! I think more and more people will definitely follow this wave !
Caleb Yoshida

That’s cool. I’d like to do that.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1092916219 Jimmie Lynn Berg

Love it, but this west Texan would need a lot more light!! I think we could figure it out. Beautiful building, beautiful idea.
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_TQUNTRSYPNNGWTNY2CYH42YR2U mainsqueezer
  
  Then use the materials native to West Texas. I read a book a while back on that and It dealt with using adobe on a massive scale in which they build a large structure, cut out the doors & windows and sealed it up and the fired the whole structure like a big kiln for about 3 days. The result is a unibody structure that is excellent insulated and as strong as steel.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_L6DL5X44P7HC4ZCI6EUHHOFIX4 Andy

We can call it artistic and inspiring, but can we call it sustainable? The article details that he received a “sizeable” bit of land. I can only assume that such a piece of land isn’t available for each person who wants to replicate his home-building process. Finances aside, there simply isn’t enough resource-intense land like this to go around. Also, many of his materials were scavenged. If everyone were building houses like this, from whom would they scavenge? Finally, what about the resources he must use to come and go. If everyone were spread as far away from each other as this man seems to be from certain necessities (again, practically impossible), wouldn’t we burn a lot of resources to interact with people in an economy that produces things like cameras to photograph our inspired homes and rubber boots to put on our children’s feet? This home is a novelty–and a beautiful one at that–but it’s certainly not a sustainable solution to the over-population plaguing our planet.
- Anonymous
  
  Not true. If you aren’t familiar with Findhorn, you might believe that. However, Findhorn (Scotland, on the North Sea not far from Loch Ness) is full of such homes. They also have their own electricity, largely from windmills. They produce most of their own food.
  
  As long as it’s possible to scavenge, what’s wrong with that? It helps make the rest of this society a bit more sustainable.
  
  Regarding overpopulation, you wont’ get an argument from me. However, you can’t solve overpopulation simply by accepting it and creating a distorted world and society for it.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=649018880 Yueh-Han Lin
  
  You can call it better and more sustainable than many of the other alternatives. He worked for the land he owns from what I interpreted in the article. It cost $4,700 for him to build not including the land… sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
  
  As far as your assumption to his transportation needs… well that’s just an assumption. The man and his family have made a positive direction in a more sustainable living situation. They could of done alot worse. If by sustainable you mean sleeping on the ground naked well then good luck just don’t post pictures lol.
- http://www.facebook.com/Asterix040173 Nils Mehlhorn
  
  it will be sustainable as soon as 99% of the world population die,which looking at the global warming and economy and political world situation, shouldnt take to long!
  - Anonymous
    
    This house is far more sustainable than nearly all the rest of the building being done. This house and its inhabitants do far less harm to the environment, political world situation, and global warming than nearly anyone else in the industrialized world.
- Anonymous
  
  Gee Andy…if this is not a big big step in the right direction..then I dont know.
  It might not be perfect, but these people do what they can.
  What do YOU do? What do I do? Come on man!!!
- Anonymous
  
  Want another word for scavanged? How about recycled.
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Matt Jackson

BRB… I’mma go mow my roof.
Marla McLean

I work with young children and this dream turned reality is a powerful story to share. I linked you in my blog post today. Thank you! http://atelier.schoolwithinschool.org/?p=2210
- Anonymous
  
  What a wonderful place for children. How lucky those kids are!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Alex-Lamptey/100000704237473 Alex Lamptey

that is awesome
Jill James-Jensen

Inspiring. I always thought that this sort of beautiful self-designed home was beyond my reach both artistically and financially. This article makes me believe again in my childhood dreams. I fell like reaching for pencil and paper right now and designing my new family home. Very, very inspiring.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Karen-Nager-Loethen/1572866341 Karen Nager Loethen

LOVE IT!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Mo-Razak/609229352 Mo Razak

Wow, how cool is that, what a beautiful and cosy house. How does it get any better than that?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Mo-Razak/609229352 Mo Razak

wow, how cool is that? what a beautiful and cosy house. how does it get any better than that?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=762993553 Lesley Prior

thats just the best
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1551320723 Doreen Williams

Love it!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000459990304 Anton Kwatakye Kwame

VERY NICE.
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http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000219649377 Ana Anna

Is this house safe? … And does they have water and heat ?
- Anonymous
  
  Did you not see the 2nd picture with a log burner and 3 other pictures with the same log burner? also in the pictures you can see a sink and what also appears to look like a gas cooker.. as regards for safe I would say that the building looks structurally sound and solid. Timber is used in a lot of different types of buildings, just because it still has bark and looks natural doesn’t mean its properties change. More of these houses need to be built !!!
- Anonymous
  
  Did you not see the 2nd picture with a log burner and 3 other pictures with the same log burner? also in the pictures you can see a sink and what also appears to look like a gas cooker.. as regards for safe I would say that the building looks structurally sound and solid. Timber is used in a lot of different types of buildings, just because it still has bark and looks natural doesn’t mean its properties change. More of these houses need to be built !!!
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000289172236 Matthew Hester
  
  Did you miss the picture of the fireplace and sink?
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000289172236 Matthew Hester
  
  Did you miss the picture of the fireplace and sink?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kathy-Peters/100000487545373 Kathy Peters

Come to Florida and build me one PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/xavious13 Michael Dunn

Amazing. I want to do this myself.
http://www.facebook.com/settantta Alex Fisher

Unfortunately, lime is no better than Portland cement so far as carbon footprint is concerned. They both involve the “cooking” at high temperatures of limestone, calcium carbonate. That causes the carbon dioxide in the limestone to be driven off, leaving calcium oxide. It also requires the burning of fossil fuel, either oil or gas, to produce the high temperatures in the kiln. The only “eco-friendly” plaster is clay.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Jeffrey-Yusem/100001069877205 Jeffrey Yusem
  
  you can also do a lime burn with wood
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes [Alex, Lime re-absorbs the CO2 as it cures]
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http://www.facebook.com/andreadthornton Andrea Thornton

This is an absolutely beautiful home! I am a bit confused about one thing, though, did I miss the bedroom for the boys? I only saw one bedroom in the plans and a toy room underneath?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Billie-Panther/1617637930 Billie Panther

beautiful… this is how we could all live so much more happily Id say fabulous and thank you for sharing
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
http://www.facebook.com/lkaymorris Lynda Morris

Absolutely amazing
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
Nette Tibbs

So so so perfect. Well done, you’re very inspirational
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
http://twitter.com/Creativiste Cynthia Scott

The only thing that confuses me is the use of a wood burning fireplace for all of the home’s heating. Isn’t this wasteful, and doesn’t it produce carbon emissions?
- Anonymous
  
  isn’t burning wood a natural way to gain warmth and cook food since the beginning of time? Come on.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/William-Burns/1841526575 William Burns
  
  Wood is renewable. What would be a better alternative for heat? Fuel oil, coal, natural gas? Electric heat provided by solar power? Not sure there is enough room for all the solar panels it would take to produce electricity for heat… Also think about the price, not to mention emissions of plastic manufacturers and natural resources spent fabricating and installing solar panels and wiring. I think if the fellow wanted a house made out of solar panels, he would have built it in a parking lot.
  - http://www.facebook.com/michael.servis Michael Servis
    
    From the research I’ve done geo thermal would be the most eco-friendly form of heat. Wood is cheaper though.Nothing about the house says modern, so why not use wood for heat?
    - http://www.facebook.com/people/William-Burns/1841526575 William Burns
      
      They’re using “geo-cooling” for the fridge so clearly geo-thermal heating was thought of by the builder. There must’ve been a reason it was ruled out. Price would be a totally legit reason especially for a house of that size. Also, since you seem to know about it, can geo-thermal heat in that geographical area exclusively heat a house to a comfortable temperature or would it need to be combined with another source?
      - Bradley Gelschus
        
        Geothermal can heat a house to comfortable temperatures. It requires around 2,000 feet of pile in loops through the ground to heat the average sized home. I’m guessing he chose not to use it because of the extra cost towards the entire project it would add, roughly triple the cost of the project. The house uses the basic concept of geothermal for the heat because it is already half in a hill, this will help save some energy that would be typically lost and lower the amount of wood he would need to go through. Wood burning stoves are also a great choice because of the ease of keeping the house warm. It is also a great way for him to manage the property. Nature needs to reduce itself to keep the natural cycle down, forest fires use to be a common thing before we controlled them. If he is going to burn wood, and has a thick stove that can retain lots of heat he can keep is home warm for hours on just a few pieces of wood.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=721970233 Ed Seyfried
  
  wood is renewable!! Plant another tree and it will ‘breathe in’ CO2 as part of photosynthesis
- http://twitter.com/candisings Candi Vis
  
  Wood is very wasteful as a heat source. It’s highly inefficient, highly toxic to us, and highly toxic to the environment. There are much more “green” ways to heat a home. Each tree that is cut down to provide fuel for heat takes several years to grow enough to help reduce pollutants.
  - http://pulse.yahoo.com/_TA2IOX72WVJQLYSGAPJDXLTM3A Teshuva
    
    The tree releases the same carbon rotting in the woods or burning in a fireplace…
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1155304916 Lawrence Redmond
      
      Not only that, but as a tree reaches maturity, it’s metabolism (ability to exchange carbon into oxygen) slows down. Trees are a renewable resource that produces much more oxygen during their growth years than they do later on in life… Plus people often forget, there is no such thing as a heat source that leaves no carbon footprint. Even if you are using solar and wind, a large carbon footprint was left during the manufacture of the components….and once their lifespan has been used up, those plastic components (made from oil) will take up space in a landfill forever.
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/William-Burns/1841526575 William Burns
    
    What are a few of these much more “green” ways to heat a home please?
  - Anonymous
    
    Please give us an alternative heat source to wood?
    When the wood is grown and harvested in a caretaking manner so the forest is left healthier than it was found, and the wood is burned carefully so it burns clean and doesn’t produce a lot of wasted heat, wood is one of the lowest impact heat sources available! (Other than living in the tropics or on top of a hot spring that is…
    And when you consider that the trees live off the main gas given off by burning, you see that the burning is part of the natural cycle, as long as we abide by the laws of nature and don’t rape the forest and the earth. (As most of modern society does)
  - http://www.facebook.com/lmullet LaVern Mullet
    
    Are you friggen kidding me?
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
http://www.facebook.com/people/Corey-Gardner/100001679667106 Corey Gardner

best home i’ve seen so far….but i’ve only been alive 38 years;-)
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
http://www.facebook.com/betty.fostersalmon Betty Foster-Salmon

OMG I LOVE .CAN U BUIL ME 1
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
http://www.facebook.com/oliver.boldizar Oliver Lucian Boldižár

Hobbit house! Excellent!
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=579802102 Wrenn Simms

I’m trying to figure out what kind of bathroom facilities it would have. It’s not marked on the diagram.

I have friends in Hawaii who use a compost toilet, and, for safety’s sake, separate the ‘living quarters’ from the ‘bathroom facilities’ due to the possibility of methane back-up from the compost toilet. In Hawaii, they separate two buildings with a lanai, a covered outdoor living area, not something you’d really want to do – go outside to go to the bath ‘house’, in the cold weather you get in the in the winter in Wales.
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
http://www.facebook.com/people/Irfan-Boaz/100001565081743 Irfan Boaz

Really very beautiful homes i like these.When i have seen these i fell in my childhood.When i read that in stories.
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
http://www.facebook.com/guerillahomesteader Michael Horne

This is one of the best examples of ingenuity that I have seen in years. My hats off to you both for having the will, to build the home, that you wanted to build for your family. Look at my web site http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fguerillahomesteading.weebly.com%2F&h=KAQEezKS1
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
http://twitter.com/candisings Candi Vis

Other than the wood heat, its a great idea!
- http://www.facebook.com/people/William-Burns/1841526575 William Burns
  
  What would be a better heat source for that house please?
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
- NotesFromME
  
  We use wood pellets here in Maine, it is a great source of heat, with about 90% efficiency. They are also relatively lower in emissions than most other forms of combustion heating.
David Cook

I just want to say a couple of things. First, I think its brilliant. 2nd. I live in California and our building codes almost certainly wont allow it, there are 58 counties in California and there may be a couple of places that will allow composting toilets, then of course everybody associates California with earthquakes so our building codes will not allow this kind of structure. However, you can build a house in California with many re-cycled materials. I built a beautiful house of 2600 sq ft using a re-cycled steel building that I picked up at an auction for $900. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, my house took 2 years to build with one helper, but what a wonderful empowering experience. I had no prior experience either. Finally, I wrote a book about my experience and I am going to send a copy to Simon. My Mum was from Llanybri. Cheers. David
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
- rachel israel
  
  what book?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Walter-Mead/1378076549 Walter Mead

the one problem I noticed is he left the bark on the wood. I believe that will cause problems for the future.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Walter-Mead/1378076549 Walter Mead

the one problem I noticed is he left the bark on the wood. I believe that will cause problems for the future.
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes [The bark is not a problem]
Anonymous

Since things in our modern life like books and cameras and computers are a bit more sensitive to moisture than in the old days, adding (less plastic than is used to cover the lumber piles on an average home construction project site) to prevent any seepage, seems like a legitimate decision!

I train primitve survival skills, and although I train for building survival debris shelters (basically a pile of leaves/etc over a framework of sticks. Inside dimensions about equal to a mummy bag, with 2-3 feet of debris above) using only the materials I find in nature (and then returning them to nature when I leave!), if I were actually in a survival situation and it was raining and I had some plastic, of course I would use it to make life drier.

There was a good alternative to portland cement, so he used it, but plastic is the best option to seal a roof like that, and probably the lowest-impact option that will continue working for years.
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
http://www.facebook.com/Chisu.the.wanderer Christine Ashley

I am going to build one for myself one day! I will remodel and design it so it will be ok
d by the local government and sanitation department! But still act like yours. I wish I lived in Wales so you can show me more in depth how you did all this.
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
http://www.facebook.com/people/Linda-Sloan/100002153870255 Linda Sloan

its truely wonderfull I want one!!!
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
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http://www.facebook.com/people/Linda-Sloan/100002153870255 Linda Sloan

I wonder about burning wood there is so much talk. Ok wood is expensive I know its all I burn but we have to remember its a luxuary and Im sure Simon and his family only burn what is needed to take the cold off and make their beautiful home warm. Not all of us feel the need to be lounging around in the dead of winter with miami shorts on…..lol
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
http://www.facebook.com/people/Raff-Potter/649875250 Raff Potter

The stuff of Grand Designs forsure!
Love it.
Would love to know how it got through Authority Consents as well as durability.
I mean all the box ticking for Resource Consent and Fire Design sign off let alone conforming to all the various design standards and any tapping into the “system” requirements. Who signed off the electrics. How did the geotech investigations? What about the OSH requirements for damp and healthy buildings.
;oD
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Rui-Rodrigues/745758450 Rui Rodrigues
  
  Hi there.
  Just like Raff the main question for me is one that regards Planning Permits and all of the above concerns.
  No doubt it’s a ground breaking concept ( pardon the punt ) but how would one tackle all of the involved burocracy.
  Congratulation on the massive achievement.
  Merry Christmas to all.
  - Oliver Swann
    
    You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
  - Anonymous
    
    To hell with the petty ‘regulators’. You have created a place of beauty for your family and an inspiration for all. I suggest that you approach the Arts Council and have it declared a ‘National Treasure’. Do please keep the world posted on any obstacles you may encounter – hopefully none>
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME
http://twitter.com/TheTileNinja the Tile Ninja

Nice place to raise a family… of HOBBITS! lol
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME
http://www.facebook.com/people/Lesley-Palma/1105014487 Lesley Palma

That is my kind of house. The stuff of fairytales.
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME
http://www.facebook.com/people/Charles-Bennett/100002782651206 Charles Bennett

Way cool house. I want one too!
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME
http://www.facebook.com/people/Daniel-Walker/100000547058507 Daniel Walker

This is by far one of the coolest ideas I have ever seen. Great job! May you go far with this.
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME
http://www.facebook.com/people/Korine-Abernathy/1573051142 Korine Abernathy

God bless you for all you have done for your family………you are a most talented man and Merry Christmas in your new home!! God bless you and your family! WOW this is so awesome!!!!!! I would LOVE a home so wonderful
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1803097397 Mary Anne Landers

This guy built a real-life hobbit hole! What a lovely, charming home! Wish I could live in a house like this. Hope more builders get the idea.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1803097397 Mary Anne Landers

This guy built a real-life hobbit hole! What a lovely, charming home! Wish I could live in a house like this. Hope more builders get the idea.
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME
http://www.facebook.com/wettstein.jason Jason Wettstein

Revolution through non participation!

>>>IF YOU AGREE RE-POST THIS<<<

1. Equality (all Humankind including the earth)

2. Anti Corruption

3. Food Independence

Most people have yards and the ones that do not should just do gorilla gardening in parks just keep turning the soil and planting food. Its our right to eat and grow food more that the right of people to have a park.

Stop buying gas and take your money out of the bank, shop only at small shops, trade, and refuse to pay tax. Love is the law of the land do not respect the laws of the elites and do not participate in any law beyond your love and morals.

Grow all your own food and farm your meat including and especially fish.

PROMOTE NON PARTICIPATION and do it with fliers, posters, word of mouth, email, posting and anything you can to do to help wake up those around us.

http://www.facebook.com/gardeningspirits

I have had a lot of confused people asking about Non Participation, hence the remainder of the post:

Non participation does not mean not voting necessarily! I am talking about not giving them our health, not allowing them to dumb us down, not giving them money, not building their bombs, not fighting their wars, not building OUR prisons.

I vote, I am one of the most active and politically engaging person writing my MP's and MLA's on many subjects even known by name with most. No silence is not apart of it to me we need to get louder.

No participation in the bad but by all means use every tool at your disposal to get the message out.

HERE USE THIS:::

http://www.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?TimePeriod=Current&Language=E

http://chemtrailresearch.com/cts/us-congress-n-governors.html

http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/

Members of Parliament
http://www.parl.gc.ca

https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150308242288264
http://www.facebook.com/daphne.mennell Daphne Mennell

oh my gosh! Beautiful!
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jason-Frost/100002905327434 Jason Frost

so inspiring, i really appreciate this example and can see many people following this way of living in the now and future… would love to create one myself… like an art project with my family! warm blessings this solstice and holy days! ~j
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
http://www.facebook.com/people/Anaiya-Sophia/553621889 Anaiya Sophia

This is the work of One with a liberated mind and a belly full of passion – thank you x
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
Anonymous

very nice i like to have same as it,i think it is so comfortable.i would like to say good louck to Simon and his family.best wishes to them.
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
http://www.facebook.com/people/David-Scott-Paradise/100000401137950 David Scott Paradise

Wow I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I hope more people get this Idea! DICE
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
http://www.facebook.com/flookstar Taylor Chelsea

amazing. seriously inspiring shit. yum!
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000248375650 Mia Walentik Bryant

Sign me up to live in an eco-village in a home like this. I have multiple chemical sensitivities that may have contributed to my current health issues; fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, ibs, memory loss, cognitive problems etc. Research shows that humans “store toxins” in our bodies and it’s difficult but possible to remove them. And those poisons are most likely the trigger to most health problems today. So I am in the process of removing the toxins, but what next? Clean living. Avoid ingesting more toxins. Healthier lifestyle. Nearly impossible in today’s world. BUT wait, then I read this! It IS possible! And this home looks like a castle to me with the natural, clean and chemical free construction!!! I’ll be contacting Simon Dale next week.
- Anonymous
  
  I have MCS too and suffer from most of the same problems minus the fibromyalgia. I also have asthma that is triggered by exposures to environmental toxins. For me, cologne is the worst. Anyway, I’m with you…that home looks like a castle to me.
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=643586162 Edwin P. Royce III

Those kids are going to need a LOT of therapy later on in life……
- Anonymous
  
  I think you need a therapy wright now
  - Anonymous
    
    ‘wright’ now. ok.
    - Anonymous
      
      Let me guess. You are a teacher ))
      
      Hartelijke groeten.
      Yours sincerely.
      
      Reijer Elzinga
      
      Verstuurd vanaf mijn iPhone
      Send from my iPhone.
      
      Op 25 dec. 2011 om 00:01 heeft “Disqus” het volgende geschreven:
  - GORDON DOLAN
    
    And you need to learn to use spellchecker! (Too hard to learn to spell…)
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_E46Y4MJ6UCGWF6QZHIUE2JRDNA cade
  
  why would they need therapy? because this doesnt conform to your ideas? you are a narrow minded critic. what this man has done is to free himself, thus his family of “traditional” thinking which is a main contributor to our worlds dwindling natural resources. you keep running with the thundering herd, while some of us will keep our eyes on simon and his craft. “way to go simon”!!! i think your onto something great. i envy your children, and hope to see your talents implemented in the future. you give me hope.
  - Kristina Vreeland
    
    I think he meant going was the kids going from this beautiful place into the world of industry we live in would be difficult. Not what you thought. Not well worded on Edwin’s part but a valid point. Anyone wouldnt want to leave this after growing up here.
    - http://www.facebook.com/sierrateacher John Sierra
      
      I totally agree. I imagine anyone who lives a happy life in simplicity, whether Amish, Quaker or a lost tribe in the Amazon, will be shocked when they’re exposed to the polluted chaos and greed of modern civilization. I laugh to myself as I remember Crocodile Dundee or the remake of George of the Jungle. Silly examples, but certainly forseeable…
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=723232482 Samirah Armengol Gonzalez
  
  I was born and raised in a beautiful urban apartment in the center of my city with all the comforts. I was lived in the most ordinary way possible and I have spent more hours doing therapy than in school LOL … I think it’s phenomenal to break the mold and not be afraid to change or difference.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1166529041 Mark Sheldon
  
  Bullshit.
http://twitter.com/EdwardDeanBrown Edward Dean Brown

Love it, simply love it. Just finished watching a Lord Of The Rings movie recently and it looks like Froto Baggins house. Also reminds me a bit of Yoda’s place too.
- Oliver Swann
  
  You can enjoy Simon’s home in this video from Natural Homes http://youtu.be/l8b80dXMgME and other similar homes at http://facebook.com/naturalhomes
http://www.facebook.com/vicenteallende.musician Vicente Allende

That´s the house I always wanted and dreamed about!!! Congratulations, Simon Dale!! You are a genius!!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Nicola-Mant/1274311936 Nicola Mant

Absolutely lovely. Well done Simon.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Vidhushi-Gunasekera/1161234633 Vidhushi Gunasekera

adorable……my dream home……
http://www.facebook.com/people/Rosemary-Hanson/100002490073284 Rosemary Hanson

Well Simon what a beautiful creative home you have made for your family. I wish you many happy years enjoying it. You are truly an inspiration to us all thank you love and miracles Rosemary Hanson
- Oliver Swann
  
  Actually Simon doesn’t live there any more. He has built a second beautiful home at Lammas ecoVillage http://www.lammas.org.uk/ You can see more of this type of home at Natural Homes https://www.facebook.com/naturalhomes
http://thecraftyangel.blogspot.com The Crafty Angel

COOLEST HOUSE EVER. I would love this!!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=875590544 Marc Purdy

How did he get planning permision?
Anonymous

I would love the answer to these questions (ahem, not criticisms)
Where do the children sleep?
There does not seem to be a rail around the bedroom, am I just not seeing it?
As I am elderly, I wonder would the stair rail support my leaning on it to go upstairs?

Anyhow, I love the place. For me, the windows make it delightful. Good job, mate.
Anonymous

Too cool
Anonymous

Original and creative! What a great house!
http://www.va-horsefarms.com
Pingback: Man Builds Fairy Tale Home for His Family – For Only £3,000 « vahorsefarms
http://profiles.google.com/wholeheartfriend Sherill Lisse

absolutely beautiful and marvellous!!!
Catherine Reetz

My Dream! You should be so proud of your accomplishment. Nice to know some people live their dream, not just dream it.
Catherine Reetz

My dream! Congratulations on your accomplishment. It’s nice to know some folks live their dream, not just dream it.
http://www.facebook.com/susan.m.stevens Susan M. Stevens

Wow!!!!! Totally awesome!!!!!
http://www.countryconsultant.com/blogspot/ Dene Brock

I just love it! I can see me and my family in a home like this.
http://twitter.com/Stephen_Bray Stephen BRAY

What a fantastic home. I’m sooooooooooo jealous!

I’m also inspired.

Fantastic.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=535540411 Lori Trotter

all i can say is wow. what a LUCKY family
Gail Davis

What a dream!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CZE7KHKNYAEWU37QGDZONAFTLQ Nails

What part of the Shire is this in?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=678401029 Sally Said

WELL DONE!
Deborah Dunne

Absolute awesome…been trying to get hubby to do the same thing in the back yard for years….had given up until I saw this.
- Anonymous
  
  Good luck with that, Mrs. Dunne!
Cinde Shields

Absolutely magical! My dream home!
Anonymous

Beautiful house. My only question: Do they need a car or truck?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Sonja-Snow/100000184932379 Sonja Snow

My dream for yrs has been to have a totaly sustanable home i do not want to rely on living and paying all the common day bills. All it takes is a DREAM and you will find ur way!
http://www.facebook.com/mia.leventhal Mia Leventhal

Ohhhhh Yesss! I believe in Fairy tales! ♥ The humble..down to earth..full of love and fun ones.. ♥
This is sooooo Beautiful! Bravo!
Anonymous

Very creative and lovely home. But it is not the wave of the future and this type of land use is not sustainable with the earth’s population. I suppose if the wave of the future didn’t include cities and included killing a few billion people it could be the wave of the future. How about sustainable cities of the future? But kudos to bringing such beauty and creative energy into the world.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Sarah-Loren/1390091149 Sarah Loren

@ chris2xand – There is only so much we can do. A potato simply cannot generate enough power to run a laptop. If you choose to live a different life, a life in which you LET GO of some of the big city fundamentals only then can you find sustainability. It is an unfortunate fact of modern times that a city by it’s very nature is dirty and greedy for power (and I mean that in a strictly electrical sense.) Everyone could choose to live like this, and honestly if we made it go 3 stories underground we’d have us a real nice duplex… but not enough people would ever choose this simple life over all of the toxic amenities modernized life brings.
- Anonymous
  
  Sarah, you make a great point about choosing to live much simpler. This family home at the same time looks rich and satisfying although many people today might not see it that way. And although living in the midst of nature is desirable, simple demographics of human population require cities doing their best, not single family homes dependent on wide flung transportation. It is modern life which demands electricity, not cities in themselves. I for one think electricity is grand, we just need to use less of the fossil fuels and more current solar income. See urban planners attempts at integrating cities with nature like Paolo Soleri or Richard Register. Imagine a multi-story city with some of the same hand-made quality, incorporating nature but offering the benefits proximity to other people and their endeavors can bring.
http://www.facebook.com/cherylcatherinesmith Cheryl Catherine Smith

An ancient design remarkably remembered… (a beautiful example of a “full circle” occurrence on this planet… ;~)
http://www.facebook.com/jaxxi.edwards Jackie Edwards

There are villages here in America employing these ideas. It isn’t impossible. They have communal solar and wind power to run their computers and other modern amenities, share 2 automobiles for those necessary trips to the bigger nearby towns for things they have not yet mastered productions of on their own, have their own school systems and are more than merely surviving. they are thriving. Check out http://www.dancingrabbit.org .
http://www.facebook.com/lawsonzepeda Jennifer Lawson-Zepeda

Cute…a little too hobbitlike for me, but cute for a movie set. But what the heck, at least its paid for; so they are already one up on most people!
http://womeninbusinessradio.com Michele Price

This is my kinda home, one that is in harmony with Mother Earth. Time for folks to adjust their artificial constructed taste in homes. Now how can we get community strong wifi and we have HUGE winner.
http://www.facebook.com/Liblet4660 Libby Rinaker Cherry

This is AWESOME! I wanna live there. This is just beautiful. Simon did an amazing job.
http://www.facebook.com/wolfssong24 Gabrielle Leister

i so could live there not a big fan of computers or any thing electrical hates me
Zelph Kinderhook

It’s great! I think the 4 months to build it claim is a bit of a stretch… but it’s cool!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Andey-Neil-Fellowes/1618118458 Andey Neil Fellowes

Hi there, We’re inspired by what you’ve done! we’ve posted a link to this on our page on facebook! If you’d like to comment and tell your site fans about it, that’d be great.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Daily-Lama/246982658701670
Anonymous

Wow! amazing, it looks similar to my dream house. Now i need a husband to help build it !
- Anonymous
  
  It took me three tries to finally find a good one. Here is a piece of very valuable unsolicited advice: You will find a better husband on the front seat of a church than on the back seat of a bar. Not saying you go husband hunting in bars, just saying if you haven’t don’t bother. My first two came from bars. The last one was a churchgoing man I met through a mutual friend. Also, don’t rule a guy out just because your Grandmother says you ought to give him a chance. She’s old enough to know what to look for in a husband, right?
  Best wishes.
  - Dirk Ouellette
    
    Why in the world are you posting here?
    - http://www.facebook.com/Reverendspam Joe Cox
      
      The troll is mad the Hobbits moved in next door. There goes the neighborhood.
      
      BTW, in the US (in most unrestricted jurisdictions) you can build anything you want on your own property. You usually cannot tie into the grid if you do not go through the inspections process.
      - david scott
        
        Oh please. Trolls resent being compared to such ignorant humans, LOL!
- http://www.facebook.com/subham1479 Subham Dash
  
  Great.. where is the Toilet.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7DSTIFL2AM2E4IR6YQRX6TRKLM hillcoguy

That’s a real neat Hobbit hole! Luvvit!
http://twitter.com/chef_boyarDAVE β. bivaⱭ

it is irresponsible to raise a family in a form of shelter not inspected by an engineer. Encouraging people to be green is great, and this is a great idea, however, construction without proper education is just reckless
- Anonymous
  
  You seem to be an Idiot, if I may say so.
- Anonymous
  
  It’s irresponsible to make such a statement and claim without even bothering to investigate. The fact is that Simon Dale works with an agency, the Lammas Project, on these homes, and that the agency works with the Wales government to implement them.
  
  You are wrong – and owe an apology.
- http://www.facebook.com/roknrod Rod Russell
  
  No one needed an engineer to build a home for their family for the first 30,000 years of human development… you sir are a blithering idiot.
  - Anonymous
    
    The first part of what you say is true…that said, thousands of people died in accidents related to substandard housing. Chicago fires ring a bell?
    - Dirk Ouellette
      
      The discussion isn’t about mass ive projects on the big city scale. It is about small landholdings.
- Dirk Ouellette
  
  Then don’t build one for yourself!
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Jonathan-Williams/58901286 Jonathan Williams
  
  Engineering as it applies to home construction is little more than basic math. It’s not that difficult to build a safe home by yourself if you have a tape measure and a calculator. Insuring it will likely be a problem, but with only a 4k investment, I don’t think that is much of an issue. If you are simply worried about safety, you can do it yourself.
Anonymous

This may be our Future and somehow it’s our Past. Bravo, Bravo, Bravo !!!
http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Haynes/100003215742359 John Haynes

Simon and family, thanks for sharing your home. The beauty and integration with the earth is awe inspiring. Thanks again- John Haynes Middlesex, Vt
http://www.facebook.com/people/Viola-Isabel-Green/1802763013 Viola Isabel Green

What a stunning house. I so admire your building it AND your reasons for doing it as you did — making it so environmentally and economically friendly. AND I love the feeling of nature that is there inside and out. Living there just has to be so wonderful.

Isabel Green in Durham, North Carolina, USA
http://www.facebook.com/pjelko Patti J Elko

So awe inspiring! Breath taking!
http://www.facebook.com/ANETTATT Anetta Doraczynska

What’s a Blessing. Thank You for sharing with Us : )
Anonymous

Simon and Jasmine, thank you for setting such a good example. I hope you inspire many people to live sustainably.
– Hank Kliewer, Minnesota, USA
http://www.facebook.com/ronniek.endre Ronnie K Endre

simply awesome…the words that best fit my feelings over this aesthetically natural habitat:)
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jack-Closson/1060955352 Jack Closson

Looking for the Hobbits.
Gloria Morotti

Proving that it doesn’t take a lot of money or a lot of education to produce a beautiful home.
http://www.facebook.com/Sudeep.Samy Sudeep Raymajhi

This is a true inspiration to those who have had dream of having a beautiful home and those who really can’t build a mansion, to those who are not that filthy rich. This is a true inspiration. I am a citizen of Nepal and if i get a chance to visit the United states i will definitely visit this fairy tale home………really loved it………
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Gary-Hicks/571018241 Gary Hicks
  
  House is in wales
- Anonymous
  
  Just because a person is rich does NOT make them filthy. Think about this: You can NEVER be POOR ENOUGH to help others. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr. Filthy Rich.
  - http://twitter.com/KatTay KatTay
    
    The “filthy rich” have been in the headlines for a bit now. They call them the 1%. The filthy part is the excessive greed they’ve shown while everyone else suffers. Sudeep is obviously one of the 99% stuck holding the bag. And considering you’re posting on this blog, DemocratTillLearned2Read, you probably are too.
- http://www.facebook.com/natica.stoddard Natica Stoddard
  
  I’m in U.S. I think this home is in Wales (next to England?)
- Anonymous
  
  its not in the United States dear, its in the UK
Anonymous

its now my dream home! lovely & amazing indeed great job simon! GOD bless you & your family!
Pingback: Man Builds Fairy Tale Home for His Family – For Only £3,000 | The Curious Collective
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kurt-Langenfeld/100001514395407 Kurt Langenfeld

that house costs more then 4,700 thats for sure. don’t know why they said it cost that little.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=839008781 Woody Deck
  
  $4,700 is a lot actually for materials. If you are counting his time as part of the project cost then yes, but if all the wood and glass free then I don’t see why not.
  
  You can also buy a 4 bedroom house in Detroit for less than this.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000031826996 Anhcim Enaid

seen pics for a while now and thought cool, but realize that it would never fall under any building codes of state-side sadly…. which is just wrong.
- Erick Feucht
  
  I was in the first straw bale home in Connecticut a few years ago. They made them build a 2×6 frame inside and a 2×6 frame outside the straw bales. It was like building a house inside a house – a serious waste of resources. Are there states that are easier on the building codes? Are there ways around the codes – like call it a tree house or something? Lobby to create new codes?
http://www.facebook.com/krista.cutter Krista Cutter

Toilet…toilet…
- http://www.facebook.com/natica.stoddard Natica Stoddard
  
  Probably – outside at the edge of te woods??
Pingback: Hobbit Home | Eli Protiva's Blog
http://www.facebook.com/people/Sean-King/100000099482582 Sean King

i work in the construction industry i personally see enough lumber and other materials thrown away at the dump to build a house a day. i applaud anyone who can do something like this using reusable materials. 4 months to build a home like this is a relatively short time using the knowledge he possessed at the time……. great job pal!!!
http://twitter.com/Kishin_D KishinD

Throw in an thermoacoustic stove/fridge/generator. Because low-energy heating and cooling with sound is just awesome… and can be powered with a simple wood fire.
Pingback: Creative Ecology by sarahturton – Pearltrees
Ray Smith

this was years ago
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1065403507 Brenda Parker

Amazing I want to come for a visit!
Pingback: Amazing house « Original Country Girl
Carlos Mora-Ninci

Hey people… I know of very many homes build in rocks, woods, mud adobe, and thrown away stuff, like broken glasses, trucks’ glasses, or so… my friends only expended on nails… we call them Requechos. Obviously, it is not for everyone. You need tons of time to spare finding pieces that match your needs. Time is expensive so… I am a builder. I build both conventional brick and portland, and I am now to build only with adobe and Requechos. For the good of the environment, recycling disposables, and our planet. It is the future of home building… here in the sierras of Cordoba, we have entire neighbourhoods build with noble earth-loving materials. They are superior to concrete in all respects, durable, thermic, beautiful… but so far, one has to sort of build it yourself… We have people who know how to make the new alternative fairy tale homes, but it is more expensive. Similar to solar or eolic energy… If you can afford it… fine. But the more people do it, the cheapest it will get and the environment will thank us all.
Congratulations for your home! I will definitelly make one like it too.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=638544433 Belinda Bell
  
  Do you have a website?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Darlene-Weigle/100001397881657 Darlene Weigle

Wow! That is just beautiful. Thank you for sharing your home with us.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1171506083 Marieke Miller

Awesome….such a beautiful cosy home. This is my dream style home I hope many others are inspired to build a house that is sustainable, environmentally friendly and healthy for the mind body & soul of its inhabitants. If this sort of thing interests you, check out the EarthShip sites.
Well Done Simon & Co for creating your space of love.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Susie-Gates/100003229067244 Susie Gates

Wow….what a beautiful, Magical Family…….The house is
stunning….what a clever guy.
Pingback: In My Next Life I’m Gonna Have A House Like This! | CrackerBoy.us
Alice La Pierre

I would jus keep an eye on the indoor air quality; the ventilation isn’t well-documented here, and there may be some issues not addressed. Moisture intrusion may also be an issue — would love to see more on this after living in it for a year or so.
- Graeme Anning
  
  I agree. It’s looking nice now, but I’d like to see how it hold up after a few winters and springs. Hopefully they won’t have mold and bug problems.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Henry-Rolls/557975416 Henry Rolls

I just spent £3200 on a new boiler system. D’oh!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Lisa-Sullivan/1158168481 Lisa Sullivan

Wow….no words~!
http://www.facebook.com/aaronpdey Aaron Edward Dey

Bathroom is in the woods?
- http://www.facebook.com/natica.stoddard Natica Stoddard
  
  Probably not too far into the woods. I wonder,’does it snow there?’ could be kinda cool.
http://twitter.com/BeCrueltyFree Cruelty Free

I want one
http://www.facebook.com/people/Joe-Jacovino/1475330755 Joe Jacovino

Here is the upside of being a huge JRR Tolkien Fan, no? Bilbo woulda loooooved this place, no doubt. He could start the OME ( Occupy Middle Earth) movement in one fell swoop lol Let’s all friend him(them) on FB peaceout y’all
http://www.facebook.com/people/Lillys-Price/100002821673074 Lillys Price

It’s a hobbit house! I love it!
http://www.facebook.com/stormyskies63 Mary Proctor

looks like it came from the lord of the rings. awesome
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Cat-Bustillos/100000385114511 Cat Bustillos
  
  i think it did come from the shire
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_P7QBQBXAYI4QKQTWNXZN43QYUQ John Straight

I`d like to live in something like that
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Jessica-DeFronzo/100000458673887 Jessica DeFronzo
  
  Me too! It’s like one of my little fairy houses! LOL
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1570392046 Amanda Riffle

uhm…. where’s the bathroom?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1570392046 Amanda Riffle

I mean I know they said compost toilet but…. is it in an outhouse? and where’s the shower? bathtub? pond? come on now…
http://www.facebook.com/people/Cat-Bustillos/100000385114511 Cat Bustillos

i can pay in tacos! but i NEED indoor plumbing
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1119971310 Kathleen Lavallee

i love`it i wish i could live there too : ) !!!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1119971310 Kathleen Lavallee

i love`it….i wish i could live there too : ) !!!
Janelle Rowe

Amazing!
Janelle
http://investworks.net
Financial Freedom on $1 A Day
Anonymous

It looks like a cross between a hobbit house and the TARDIS. (In other words, best house ever.)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000723443181 Mxhiicazii Malinosque

funtastic ^__^hope i could have it also ….
http://twitter.com/Sweetmadee38 DDC

super
http://www.youravon.com/daniellecamacho
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000192785876 Glenda Schloff

one bedroom? where’s the bedrooms for the kids?
Anonymous

Creative, cozy and green……Wonderful, to say the least!
Does it have an indoor bathroom/shower area?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1599145456 Leonard Stephen Ondu Majakil

Great to be living in the woodland! I hope to be designing and building my very own here in Borneo Island.

Ripple of Borneo.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Yvonne-Hansen/1329884338 Yvonne Hansen

Thank you so much, Mimi! Ah, a home that embraces those who live in it. I like it. Cozy, warm, inviting, livable – and, yes, where’s the potty?
Pingback: Tolkien Would Approve | Catholic and Enjoying It!
http://www.facebook.com/gus.pedersen Gus Pedersen

Hate to be the bearer of Bad Tidings and government intervention. But this building would never pass a building inspector in any town in the US. Stairs hand rail not code nor are the steps. I can’t see much of the electric wiring, but the beams supporting the roof are not acceptable. I don’t bring this up to be a Scrooge, but bring out the fact that we could build buildings much more efficiently if the building codes were changed a just little.
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_A6CVYFNYT7B5GM2YKX6HBGZMHA An1
  
  I have no idea how he’s got it past UK planning laws either, as they’re ridiculously stringent. I totally get and agree with your point though. H&S has gone too far into profiteering rather than actually benefiting people who will one day live in the home concerned.
  
  I think the best thing about this house is the fact that it’s adaptable… when the boys grow, they’ll be able to rearrange the interior or maybe even extend the home as their needs drive.
Pingback: FUN FAIRY TALE HOME IS GOOD FENG SHUI! | Feng Shui By Fishgirl
http://twitter.com/PrincessLilla Melissa Fairchild

I want this home!
http://twitter.com/PrincessLilla Melissa Fairchild

Beautiful home! I want this!
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http://www.facebook.com/people/Faith-Deitrich/1594080733 Faith Deitrich

Looks beautiful and magical; but I’m not sure if the support for the bedroom is sturdy enough for my rambunctious boy. Also, I think as the kids get older they would want to have more privacy……and maybe a shower. Great for a weeks vacation though!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Deborah-Kitzul/100001974408592 Deborah Kitzul

We had an underground house in a part of my home town of Flint , Mich., off of Miller Road South, which was mostly made up of mansions. This house was all underground except for the roof which was shingled. When I was driving down Miller Road last summer I noticed that the house is no longer there. It was in place for about 40 years I know of. People say that these house are actually warmer than you would think in the winter. It was the closest thing to the Hobbit house I have seen and eco friendly.
- http://twitter.com/AmySimpson6 Amy Simpson
  
  i remember that house (i am from flint), was actually in it once, it had an indoor swimming pool!
Jakub Sałacki

how to build it ?
- Anonymous
  
  Follow the links at the bottom of the article. There’s a fair amount of information about how to build.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jessica-Scott/100000438251273 Jessica Scott

It’s inspiring. You really can do anything you put your heart to. All the technical nitpickers aside……Amazing job. I love that you stepped outside of what is normal and expected and did a beautiful thing.
http://www.facebook.com/alexcavalerapt Alex Cavalera

Absolutely amazing.. I am stuned…!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1105995191 Terrance O’Connors

truly my dream home and a future goal of mine
Anonymous

Smart man with an exellent eye for fashion.
Hapless Scientist

Very, very, very, very nice. And it can be rented out as a movie set!

However, as a former homeowner several times over, I predict that this home will be a real bear to maintain. And god help them if they develop a rodent problem.

It should only be passed along to others who are both handy and have an eye for nice design. These two have an eye for what looks nice, that’s for sure. In the hands of someone who has neither, the place will go to ruin rather quickly.

And lord, but I can just hear the building inspector around these parts!
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=607502036 Sam Veronique
  
  the possibility of rodent problem is easily avoided with a cat or a terrier
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Phil-Loubere/1081380352 Phil Loubere
  
  I doubt it’s any more maintenance than my generic A-frame suburban house, which is in constant need of expensive maintenance and repair and is vulnerable to ants and termites as well as rodents. His may very well outlast mine, it looks more solid. The only extra work is he can’t get all his material at the local Home Depot.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=673351016 Colleen Walker
  
  We spent tens of thousands of dollars to build our home ABOVE code in all departments.We had load bearing walls engineered at a cost of hundreds , We had the garage DOOR engineered. We had every little thing double rebarred and double insallated. We fought with the Electricity provider. We fought with the Gas service provider. We fought with the Water/Sewr and the City Ordinance. A tiny 1050 foot house cost us $258,000.00. And we have no granite, hardwood or stainless steel. Things still broke down. We have at least a dozen rodents take up residence with us each winter. I have SO HAD IT WITH BUILDING TO CODE!!!!!!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IDONHMMEQLPFXFZZ6BJRDFJHFY jimalexanderson

Its really nice but building codes are there for a reason not harassment, once you’ve seen a family die from the roof caving in it hits you that they need to be stronger, if 15 people die in 1 year because of the wiring, once you see the charred body’s you do something about it, but a few changes and it would be great.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=698081052 Andrew Hansen

Lol its dirt cheep for a reason. Its dirt, personally im glad my ancestors left old country and the dirt houses. they’re crap. things like this make me wanna go idle some hummers and have a big firepit full of coal and burn it. just to say F U the idea that man causes global warming is a crock
- Chris Spiker
  
  Oh I’m sorry, you must have missed the mountains of scientific evidence to the contrary. Or you’re just an ignorant troglodite. Both?
http://twitter.com/matteisn Matthew Eisner

andrew hansen is retarded
Anonymous

Gorgeous home~very creative! Correction Mr. Eisner~ that is such a crude, archaic word, but I understand the passion behind it; however, Mr. Hansen’s post does show a selfish, self-centered, uneducated view.
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http://www.facebook.com/people/Susan-Golian/1029976628 Susan Golian

Hobbit house!!! So coveting this lovely abode!
http://twitter.com/ltandlv11 Lisa Berry

Wonderful!! It hits a spot within that says “simplicity is grace”.
Thank You for sharing.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Christopher-Williams/100001907313049 Christopher Williams

Wow! Truly amazing. Hopefully this makes a change world wide on house building.
http://www.nivelcien.net Yago Rosa Fernández

WOW
- http://www.driesbultynck.be/ Dries Bultynck
  
  Impressive!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Rafael-Nuche-Lah/100003235219905 Rafael Nuche Lah

There is no more unsustainable way in social, economical and ecological terms of housing and urban planning than widespreading population throughout territory. Yeah right the hobbit hole is cool but don´t go selling me stuff about sustainability thanks. An anthill is unnatural? No, right? A city neither.
- Roberto
  
  You’re thinking about getting supplies from big factories that must distribute their products to remote locations. There’s no sustainability problem if you get your supplies from small, local producers. So, at the same time you spread both the population and the producers, and there’s your sustainability: discard unnecessary needs to travel.
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/Rafael-Nuche-Lah/100003235219905 Rafael Nuche Lah
    
    You are not considering infrastructures, services, energy supply, police, hospitality services, social interaction reduced to your walking distance, unsafety, the fact that your local producer is absolutely unable to produce everything a community need, the cultural impoverishment of isolation, etc. Consider the U.S where people are spread throughout territory, consider L.A. with it´s smog and crime, consider Amstettem and what that lovely village produced, consider the Human Centipede and what kind of urban planning made that possible. And of course there is certainly a way to spoil the city too, but that is another subject. But please when talking about architecture don´t try to make things simple.
    - Anonymous
      
      Smaller communities require smaller services.
      
      Walking distance? Ever hear of bicycles? And exactly why would community vehicles, like buses (electric buses?) be nonexistent in small communities?
      
      Hospitality services can be provided quite easily on a small scale. In the British Isles, staying in a hotel is absurd when one can far more comfortably and for far less money stay in small bed and breakfast establishments.
      
      Energy? Ever hear of renewables like solar & wind?
      
      No one has stated that it’s necessary for all goods to be locally made – only that the focus be on local. Intelligently sourced goods from outside sources can be perfectly reasonable.
      
      But please, don’t try to suggest that it’s sustainable to stack people one on top of the other. It isn’t. It forces the importation of nearly everything people require.
      
      There’s nothing inherently wrong with simple in architecture – nor is there anything wrong with complex design. Why on earth continue to think inside the (big)box? That’s not sustainable, and trying to pit the sort of thing demonstrated by Simon Dale against full urban living is to create a dichotomy that acts as a straw dog. The fact is that we do not have to think in terms of urban or non-urban. We should be thinking in terms of human living in a finite and living world of which we’re part.
      - http://www.facebook.com/people/Rafael-Nuche-Lah/100003235219905 Rafael Nuche Lah
        
        Quoting Jane Jacobs The fact is that most of the intellectual work that still remains to be done in architecture is not “imagine”, is examining what works and what doesn´t work, and the garden city is not new and definitely doesn´t work for anything bigger than isolated small communities (ever wonder why they surround them with fences in the USA?). And if you pretend that human living is to be organized in small isolated communities you are denying 10000 years of human civilization.
        I bet that the children who grow up in that hobbit hole, if given a chance, will eat their way out of the ground to the nearest city, unless they are educated in the Amish way, or the North Corean way, or the Shyalaman movie “the forest” way, isolating them .Denying that is denying human nature But maybe you can tell me any existing community with at least 3 generations coexisting, operating under your premises and without brainwash ad hoc.
      - http://www.facebook.com/people/Rafael-Nuche-Lah/100003235219905 Rafael Nuche Lah
        
        Not to mention that a few small communities require a hell more services than a big city, think of wires, pipes, asphalt, water purification, pumping stations, gas, telecommunications and think of how much of that is saved centralizing population.
        
        Monolithic ideas like “smaller communities smaller services” or “Parks are the lungs of a city” or “the greener the better” sound cool and are easy to assimilate but are absolutely wrong and cause great harm to people living in places conceived under these ideas, not to mention the living world we are part.
- Anonymous
  
  Idiot.
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Anonymous

This is so unbelievably lovely and wonderful. Congratulations on your vision, and abilities. Sue Ross, USA
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_6DAHPIDUTUELJV3XZO3MPH5QAE Emmanuel

With no typhoons and minimal rainfall, this “low-impact” house is good for Wales, but not for the Phils. Let us not generalize. Also, the builder got a generous amount of land. What about in a city? And if you can be idle for 4 months not earning a living, what about those who must work daily to be able to survive? This Simon Dale thing is utopian and cannot be “mass-applied” to benefit society. It is for highly-paid photographers and artists who are laid back.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000062809975 Deb Watkins
  
  Wales? Minimal rainfall?? Never been here then! Wet as a wet thing!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Rafael-Nuche-Lah/100003235219905 Rafael Nuche Lah

Replying to the moderator:

Who have said anything about Capitalist system? I was talking about technical facts and what is proven wrong. And the Findhorn thing is quite funny, 210 people? That´s a community? Are you kidding? And not to mention that the community depends on tourism, rents and donations (extracted from webpage), and oh! Surprise is at least 7 km away from Forres the closest thing to a real human community you can find near that.

And I like that other monolithic idea “human activity is destroying the world” how I like those apocalyptic speech, to sell ways of life, it really reminds me of something starting with “reli” and ending with “gion” … You know that if humankind disappears from day to night it would only take 200 years to totally erase any trace of our existence. So don´t worry whatever we do the world will keep on rolling.

And the most important thing! Read this extracted from the webpage:

Guidance for 1 January
Lift up your heart and enter the new year with the knowledge that a truly wonderful year is there ahead of you. Behold the very best come forth out of everything. I can tell you what a glorious year it will be. But unless you accept what I say with a heart full of gratitude and expect the very best because your faith and trust are in My word, it will not come about. You have to help it come about. You have to hold on to My wonderful promises and believe. It is not a question of believing with your mind. You have to believe with the intuition, with that inner knowing which comes from the highest, from Me. Visualise Me going before you preparing the way, making the seemingly impossible become possible. Only the very, very best, the perfect, is for those souls who truly love Me and put Me first in everything.

How does it sound like????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fnmhj58o0k

Yeah, we have brainwash.
- Anonymous
  
  You link to a Simpsons video and imply that it describes Findhorn. It doesn’t.
  
  No one has suggested that Findhorn or any other community exists in a vacuum. But it does exist, and it has a means of existing that is quite independent of how most of the rest of the world lives. It makes no difference if the number of full-time residents is just over 200. You suggested that such a community can’t exist – but it does, and has done so successfully for many years.
  
  Regarding capitalism, no you didn’t bring it up. But everything you’ve said indicates that it’s how you view the world. You accept its tenets as the only way to see what’s right.
  
  Capitalism is destroying the world. It’s capitalism that destroys societies, including those that have chosen a different way of life and do so successfully. It has destroyed countless ecosystems, the basis on which we all live.
  
  You are speaking to the wrong person when you choose to make accusations of religion or religious bias. It’s laughable. And, you are stepping over a line. Making accusations and implications that have no basis in anything but strange associations in your mind. You can stop that now, or you can find your comments eliminated. Reasonable discussion is fine, but that’s not what you’re engaging in. You have stooped to ad hominem attacks, and they will not be tolerated.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Chandra-Fike/670356256 Chandra Fike
  
  Guidance for 1 January
  “Lift up your heart and enter the new year with the knowledge that a truly wonderful year is there ahead of you. Behold the very best come forth out of everything. I can tell you what a glorious year it will be. But unless you accept what I say with a heart full of gratitude and expect the very best because your faith and trust are in My word, it will not come about. You have to help it come about. You have to hold on to My wonderful promises and believe. It is not a question of believing with your mind. You have to believe with the intuition, with that inner knowing which comes from the highest, from Me. Visualise Me going before you preparing the way, making the seemingly impossible become possible. Only the very, very best, the perfect, is for those souls who truly love Me and put Me first in everything.”
  
  thanks for re-quoting this I know it may not have been you intention Rafael but this blessed my soul! These words are life and strength to those who have ears to hear. and May the Lord bless this family and their home!
  
  Romans 14:11 It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’”
  
  one day all will know the truth even if they choose not to accept it, although I hope and pray those who have rejected it will turn from their sin and seek God before its too late.
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http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PRMQ5DTP4TDNH6HO5DIOXKVF6E Pieman

That’s one of the kinds of homes, I want! Wish I had the plans for it,and someone reliable, to build it for me, for an affordable cost
http://www.facebook.com/people/Wendy-Beasley/608112651 Wendy Beasley

Awesome! Getting the zoning etc must have been ‘fun’.
Wish you many happy years there.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Wendy-Beasley/608112651 Wendy Beasley

Love the house, but OMG glancing down the comments is like observing a war zone!
We’re all decent people trying to do our best, so why stomp on us just because we have different values or opinions. You have the right to your opinions. Back off and let others have theirs!
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http://www.facebook.com/dave.pechan Dave Pechan

God bless him. Forget Zoning, building codes its all a fraud. Most of the housing stock in the world and even here in the US, where zoning and building departments are a creation of the 1970′s in California, are created to help drive up prices, stop people from caring for their families needs, making them homeless and dependent on gov’t for survival, or both. Stop the self imposed tryany of building and zoning.
- Gary Goodman
  
  Dave, Zoning laws and building rules are not AT ALL designed to drive up costs or negatively impact on humans, quite the opposite. But it is true that the stakeholdes who have input are not altruistic. This reality can’t be wished away. Zoning standards do intend to bring order to communities that must share commons equitably. They keep greedy property owners from encroaching on other users. They set standards for open space as well. There are places like California with killer earthquakes and fires. The building codes created rational checkable standards for safety that keep people alive. Hate to say it, but without “goverment” there would be nothing unchecked expoitation.
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http://www.facebook.com/people/Tiny-Doors/100003047288192 Tiny Doors

Hi Simon
love your work I build many thatched follies a little like your work, you can see some at tinydoors.com under follies.I am just putting a large one together for the chelsea flower show. Would love to meet you some day
Simon Sinkinson
http://twitter.com/NerdMonkey42 Nerd Monkey 42

This is pretty amazing, and the fact that it was so cheap has got me saving up for the building costs for my own. Really amazing.
http://www.emilsmith.co.uk/ Emil

WOTEVZ. he can’t read this article because he doesn’t have broadband.
- Anonymous
  
  LOL – I think you’re missing the point – the writer of the article promised to send him a copy, using “snail mail” … using REAL snails …
  - http://www.emilsmith.co.uk/ Emil
    
    and in what way to snails contest fibre optic broadband as a communication medium?
cristian troncoso

nice nice
http://www.facebook.com/people/Tiffany-Garcia/100000459545521 Tiffany Garcia

IM IMPRESSED
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http://twitter.com/LaRoumiss Geraldine P.

This is really cool – Where did you get the plans to do this? And what research did you do for the best materials?

Would love to make this for ourselves – buying land and then building this same type of housing.
Dirlene D’Addio

Fantastic
http://www.facebook.com/people/Cathleen-Yampolsky/1601774525 Cathleen Yampolsky

I want to move in!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Cathleen-Yampolsky/1601774525 Cathleen Yampolsky

I want to move in!
http://www.facebook.com/JoseMPC Jose Manuel Pastor Cano

If you want something like this check out earthships:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TbxhpG-Y4Q
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Jill Hart

Great place! totally love the creativity that went into this home.
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http://www.facebook.com/angie.arcuri1 Angela Lapkin Arcuri

This is really awesome!! I really admire this. Is there only one bedroom? What when the kids grow up and want some privacy? That is my only concern. But way cool. I want a house like that!
http://www.facebook.com/angie.arcuri1 Angela Lapkin Arcuri

This is really awesome!! I really admire this. Is there only one bedroom? What when the kids grow up and want some privacy? That is my only concern. But way cool. I want a house like that!
http://www.lorimcktia.blogspot.com/ Tia

Lovely home and it would be wonderful if some of us could build using our own imaginations and all sustainable products. We have ridiculous building codes up to and including what color you can paint your house. The city, through great expense to the homeowner can tell you if you can put up a fence or a wall, what type, how high, etc. They determine every railing, placement of all walls, foundations, etc. Half of the time building or remodeling is determined by how fast the city approves (or doesn’t approve) your plans according to their guidelines. No fairy tales here.
Gregory Lyell

It reminds me of a Hobbitt Hole! lol.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Sandra-Taylor/1347724169 Sandra Taylor

I think this is a lovely home and well done for being so inventive..
amy metzger

This is my dream…to have a home like this. My husband *IS a contractor but laws in our area are very restrictive. I so hope to build a house like this one day. Congratulations to you on a wonderful job well done.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001850714205 Charisse Fatima Harina

wow !!!!is there another Simon in this world left!?? I want to marry a guy like him!! lucky his wife!!!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Klaudia-Schwenk/549062665 Klaudia Schwenk

this is just amazing. i didn’t know you could make something like that!
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Anonymous

Incredible!

David Orman
http://www.hghplus.net
http://www.facebook.com/LuvsSprit De’Anna West

Wanna build one for me? I don’t need a big place, and I really like the setting. I lived in the woods for years in Tipi’s and tents, and I like my washing machine and vacuum today, (I am much older too–in my 50′s at this point) but this is and always has been my style for a dream home.
Anonymous

wooow… really inspiring… thank you! it makes me happy to see ppl taking responsibility for their own lives…when i see this i feel myself esteemed in my own engagement.

check http://www.urbanagriculturebasel.ch and http://www.permakulturschweiz.ch and http://www.permakultur-design.com/

in lak’ech
bastiaan
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_TTSJUEABP6EUPQZGJLCMASKWVQ a

It reminds me of the kids books & TV show about moles. This is a great option for some people. I’m really glad someone has done it, to show others what’s possible. It’s not for everyone, I think there would be a lot of bugs in the house and I feel clausterphobic just looking at the photos.
(Tommygirl20247)

lol I dont see no bathroom
- leeFX
  
  Heard of a little thing called Nature? Or “the outdoors”?
  
  Seriously though, I bet they just didn’t show a picture of it. I’m sure they have one of some kind. I hope.
  - (Tommygirl20247)
    
    would of thought they would put it on the floor plan lol
- Anonymous
  
  They have a composting toilet.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WTFTXTL4J76H5JN2GK67Q4YUMI Keikoku

I would love a house like that, it’s amazing.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=583065347 Ryan Hanks

how the heck did it pass inspection?
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Jessica-Robinson/52705005 Jessica Robinson
  
  It was in Wales in the UK. Plus it was probably in the country, where it has less building laws.
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=596444623 Sara Frances Browne
    
    Sorry to burst the bubble Jessica but planning laws in the UK generally are pretty prohibitive. Simon would have had to jump through hoops to obtain planning permission and I believe it took him a few years before he was granted permission to build. Having said that he seems to be pretty persistent and has managed to create a little piece of heaven for himself and his family. Kudos to him.
    - Anonymous
      
      Sorry, but the fact is that Simon works with an agency that works with the Wales government to build such homes. It’s highly unlikely that he had any serious trouble.
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002907730104 Klon Jay
        
        No, “Lammas is a cooperative with several hundred members and several thousand supporters.”
        
        ——————————————
        
        Lammas has planning approval to build a village of similar homes.
        http://www.lammas.org.uk/ecovillage/index.htm
        
        HS
http://www.facebook.com/justin.stout3 Justin Stout

lol someone is obsessed with “The Hobbit”
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http://www.facebook.com/people/Douglass-High-Sr/100000001556376 Douglass High Sr.

Lovely, ingenious, expansive, and intriguing. Headed in that direction.
http://twitter.com/Jawsphobia William La Rochelle

This is what comes of watching all the special features on your Lord of the Rings DVDs.
Anonymous

I’m so impressed with this beautiful project and how it obviously kept a man busy and involved in making his own family home. I’m sure it brought a whole new sense of pride – doing something for yourself instead of waiting for government.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Sue-Langas/100001959121236 Sue Langas

Amazing!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Evelyn-Harrison/100001077072183 Evelyn Harrison

It is lovely. The stuff of fairy tales. You expect a Hobbit to come out. It makes up for the magic we had as children and lost.It is cosy, inviting and totally in harmony with nature. Lucky little ones to be brought up with these parents
Anonymous

have you thought of wind genaraters for power you could incrop.it to the design?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Fen-Gregersen/100001654988276 Fen Gregersen

Sweet!
http://www.facebook.com/SkipperMike Mike McMullen

GREAT Job Simon! It’s good that your out in the country…No crazy restrictions, like anywhere in the US! And, yes, I agree with, whom ever it was that came up with Solar Power! No doubt your on a well!? Super Idea and….if you could become Grid Free…Buddy, you just took the cake and ate it too….LOL.(x>)
http://www.facebook.com/SkipperMike Mike McMullen

About toilets, There is a company called EKCO JOHN…No water or pluming…Burns, using propane…has small exhaust tube…clean!
http://www.facebook.com/den.meadows Den Meadows

would give anything to live there, good luck to you and be happy in your wonderful home, just love it , as soon as l saw it l thought of Wind in the Willows,
http://www.facebook.com/people/Janice-Hamblen-Kirkland/1028746340 Janice Hamblen-Kirkland

Wonderful. Hard to believe he did this without help from someone with knowledge of carpentry and/or other skills needed to accomplish what he did. Our country would be a much better place if people could be content with what they need instead of what they want.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001718417326 Liz Payne

love it!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Karen-Severance-Chambers/1184012664 Karen Severance Chambers

i really love this i think he did an awesome job.. it’s amazing what you can do with so little money.. i wish i was that talented to do something like that..
Anonymous

Without taking away from Simon’s achievements did he apply for building permits? As part of his building application did he submit storm water management plans to deal with the run off from putting a structure where land once absorbed the water?

What about the health department and the disposal of human waste? Was Simon allowed to install a cesspool or was he required to install a full blown septic system based on the number of bedrooms and bathrooms on his plans. Did he draw the plans himself or did he need to pay someone to draw them for him and if he was required to submit drawn plans were they sealed by an engineer or an architect? (Getting a professional to seal plans is for CYA purposes. A professional seal acts like an insurance policy to fall back on in case something or someone messes up. Someone’s got to pay,Right, so a deep pocket is always beneficial in such circumstances.)

Must not forget that the lumber needs to be certified and STAMPED, (each individual piece) that it’s structurally suitable for today’s new home construction.

Lucky he didn’t have any zoning issues? Sounds like he didn’t face any neighbor opposition to building a home in the location? Heaven forbid the neighbors don’t get a chance to object and voice their opposition to allowing another human being to have a place to live. Zoning hearings, after the fee for the hearing is paid, the hearing advertised as a public announcement in a newspaper generally take between 3 to 6 months before a decision is rendered.

Shucks, I forgot to mention the government with their regulations designed to protect people from run away development. The government tends to be even more controlling than the neighbor that complains because he or she doesn’t want “trashy” neighbors living next door.

Just because you own land don’t make the mistake you can use it the way you want. So hats off to Simon for somehow managing to avoid some of the most obvious obstacles one normally encounters when attempting to build a modest single family home for their survival.

If Simon’s is an authentic story then you will approve this comment. If it’s a publication with a subliminal intention then what I have written will probably never see the light of day in your comment section.
- Anonymous
  
  Your comment comes across as an attempt to cause trouble. Your implication that this isn’t legit is an insult – one that is proven false by the next sentence:
  
  Simon works with an agency working with the Wales government to produce such homes. So none of your snide commentary is accurate.
  - http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BJMC7DNJ2IEOUO42HVY2WXGZJU Tony L
    
    it didnt come off to me as that snide. it was the same type of stuff i was thinking! i love the house, but i was wondering, first off, how he could get that built in 4 months by himself. thats pretty amazing. when youre not dealing with boxes and 90 degree angles, every step has to be most precise and time consuming. i have rehabbed city homes using as much salvaged material as possible, and it creates a lot of work! it does look like stormwater would be a non issue (green roof, low footprint, and youre in the countryside) and the composting toilets dont need septic, for those familiar.
    
    i love it, but we should also keep in mind that it is a very site specific design, built with the materials at hand (hats off to simon!). it is not exactly a replicable model, for human population…we need to figure out what we can do in cities with these same mentalities, but where sitim’s reality of liscence and inspection comes very much into play!
    
    by the way, sitim…if youre at drexel, i am in west philly. best of luck with the maqcrete. sounds interesting. does it use portland cement?
    - http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IPJLMPYOYEELBTOVZV7TBLL2PA Charlie
      
      It is replicable if your in the Hobbit neighborhood lol, Congrats anyway and cudos to the Welsh ingenuity
Anonymous

This is gorgeous and so appropriate. Only thing that could make it better would be wood pellet heat, doesn’t create the air pollution that burning wood does.
http://www.facebook.com/robertmkay Rob Kay

Its lovely, but a bit too pokey for a family of four in the long term: the whole thing could fit into my lounge. And I wouldnt want their spiders!
- http://www.facebook.com/Smikke Smi Kke
  
  Its not about the size, its about the idea that there are other options to rule this planet.
  Animals adapt to the planet and evolve, humans put the world to their own hand instead of using what nature gives us. (And destroy it)
  
  You can make this house 50 times bigger, and you got all kind of styles and possibilities. Not only scavenging, but also recycling our junk. There are ways to turn old tires into perfect isolating walls. You don´t even have to melt them, just fill them up.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Martuka-Pata-Xula/1462464397 Martuka Pata Xula
  
  ohh men u didnt understand anything about why to make this king of home…people like u is who fuck the world, u have not idea about what is really important… and u dont have style as well
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http://www.facebook.com/gmarlowe1 Gail Marlowe

OMG! I just fell in love!!
Anonymous

Absolutely fantastic. Difficult to achieve at the same cost for the very reason “building inspector” Sitim has described in his droll, destructive to creativity and human imagination boil, boil, toil and trouble skeptacism in his post. I wish him personally a lifetime of paperwork and bureaucratic stuffings of every thought or plan he ever has. I have no doubt its his job somewhere to do this to others as he has attempted to do here.

The house isn’t perfect; its ideal.

Hats off to this family for the creative fortitude.
John Adams

Hello Simon and Jasmine. well done you two. I live in west Wales as well and just love your amazing space. I’ve built my own homes to. But I’m a builder by traid and your ideas are just fantastic. Look on fb and see some of my work if your interested.But Im really just letting you know how amazing I think this hse is.What better way of bringing a family into the World. Impresive stuff people.Thats what its all about after all. Looking after the family in a safe and loving enviroment. Love it.
- Anonymous
  
  Hi John – Would you include a link to your Facebook page so we can see?
Anonymous

I see that my comments have created a firestorm of controversy with comments. As one reader offered “I should suffer a lifetime of paperwork and bureaucratic stuffings of every thought or plan he ever has”. It is because I have endured a life time of paperwork and bureaucratic stuffings that I have become cynical. It was my feelings of frustration about my thwarted attempts to do something for the betterment of mankind that spilled out in the form of negativity in my posting. I am sincerely sorry for this and I apologize to whomever was offended by remarks. It was not my intention to take away from Simon’s accomplishment. I suspect I also felt envious of his ability to achieve his dreams.

I will explain. I co-invented a green building material known as MaqCrete that was granted a patent back in early 2000 and to this date I am still endeavoring to get it to market. Before it can be sold it must pass all sort of tests to prove it is at least equal to or better than existing concrete. MaqCrete is the world’s first fully recyclable building material made out of cement and post industrial waste, organic fiber. You can drive nails into it with a hammer and cut it with a saw. It is fire resistance and it doesn’t absorb or wick water like conventional concrete. When it’s intended use is over it can be ground up and reused to cast a new structure and it has a high R-Value that resists the transfer of heat through the material, making it energy efficient.

On a good day I feel positive that the current testing being conducted at the Material Science and Engineering Department at Drexel University, paid for in part by a grant award to MaqCrete by the Green Building Alliance in Mary 2011, will produce results advancing MaqCrete through the commercialization process. On a day such as I was experiencing on Sunday, Jan 8, 2011 when I wrote the controversial comment, I was feeling dejected, despondent and hopeless.

So, once again I offer my apologies for my negative attitude and ask for understanding and even a bit of compassion for a WOMAN that is doing her best in a world filled with an untold, infinite number of dream crushing potentialities awaiting her every move.
- Anonymous
  
  Thank you for apologizing – and all the best to you in bringing your invention to market!
  
  Can you offer a link or anything that might give us more information about it?
  - Anonymous
    
    An article was written about MaqCrete in a recent issue of Builder magazine. I am internet challenged and I don’t know if the link below will work properly.
    
    http://www.builderonline.com/energy-efficient-construction/rock-and-a-hard-place.aspx
    
    This next link, if it works will connect you with my blog entry about MaqCrete. (I’ve been banned from writing blogs for the time being for the same reason I was called out for my comments about Simon’s Fairy Tale Home, negativity
    
    http://energyefficienthomesteam.com/maqcrete/
    
    If the two above links don’t work let me know and I will ask someone for assistance to get them right.
    
    P.S. I lived in Swansea, Wales from 1994-1996 and attended the University of Wales. At their European Business Management School we wrote the innovation document for MaqCrete and Dennis my husband also conducted a survey of the U.K. “green housing market” and how it differs from the US. Simon’s achievements are remarkable and his efforts deserve recognition.
- Anonymous
  
  I work in a man’s world too hun….you keep going. It’s very tough, but you are obviously an intelligent and dedicated human being….I’m sure there are many like minded people out here (me included) who would love to do something with sustainability but do not want to pay and cannot afford to pay the ridiculous prices that some people charge…forces the creativity to manifest….good luck!!!
Kristi Delynko

I wish I could hire Simon to come to the US and build me a house like this one
- Anja Franch
  
  you can only build a home like that for yourself..! He can’t build for you.. not really. I want to build a house like that, but I can’t see anything but the exact of his pictures and my mind won’t allow me to find my own. That’s why there is genious.. which means it came from his inner world. Thanx for sharing it, Simon. And lets all take his philosophy serious.. also tomorrow, when we forgot these pictures of another mans home.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BJMC7DNJ2IEOUO42HVY2WXGZJU Tony L

i mean costwise, i dont even know if you could hook up pv solar here in the states for that kind of money. composting toilets are surprisingly available now from home depot, but run a grand (although with lime, sawdust and separation of 1&2 you can use a 5 gallon bucket to great effect). if he got good quality windows, at least double paned i hope, he must have spent a grand on that alone. anyway…maybe he has some cost cutting tips for us!
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Lisa-Valentine/1629554959 Lisa Valentine
  
  .”..for power. Most materials were scavenged. The effect,..”
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=809019230 Mika de Villejoint

It’s magnificent !!!!
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John Adams

Well Simon if we run out of Fossil fuels then we’ll have no choice but to live a different life then.Maybe it would be a good thing eventualy. I mean why do we want to sustain this madness we call living after all. I mean we can allways live like we used to live. But without all the nasty ways that where. I mean at least we shouldnt be so ignorant as in the past. Bring it on I say.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Lisa-Valentine/1629554959 Lisa Valentine
  
  “… and has a solar panel for power. Most materials were scavenged. The effect,…”
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1771868973 Becky Seibolt Snook Meredith

Good Job! That would be amazing to do.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Petar-Petkanov/100000179695161 Petar Petkanov

no disrespect,but is that only me,or while I was watching those photos of Simon’s amazing home,I couldn’t help but expect to see Gandalf to show up in some room.But jokes aside,this mad did great job!!
http://www.facebook.com/emvanoudenaarde Els van Oudenaarde

wat een geweldig huis echt een sprookje ik wil er in wonen
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http://twitter.com/JoukoSalonen Jouko Salonen

hieno talo! Taidan tehdä samanlaisen.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_YUDNLLQDRKOVCVCWZF3VDSP6NM Chris The A

Nice, It reminds me of stuff I used toread about in “The Whole Earth Caralog” back in the ’70′s.
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http://twitter.com/RationalRanter David silverman

“Wales, the western part of Great Britain”. Oops!

http://themarpleleaf.blogspot.com/2010/07/come-home-to-real-fire-buy-cottage-in.html
Anonymous

Just a note to let people know that links related to the topic are welcome, but not unrelated links.
Tim Kat

Awesome! I’ll pay double the price if he want’s to build me one in Spain!
Keaton Cloherty

It does look really cool and creative but is it safe? the article says that he’s not qualified in anything so the whole thing could potentially collapse!
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_HXZMAHLRNVYW23XFSHZOBV6GLE Timothy
  
  His choice…Keep yer nose in its own shape, and outa his business. This man gives me hope that I might one day build a house for my family. If you look at history, architechts didn’t build all that many buildings — simple folk did. He’s following the tradition…
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=559500506 Sidsel Marie Riistoft Nygaard

Uber Cool! it resembles the houses the Hobbits live in the adaptation of Lord of The Rings.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000007985549 Wanda Rogers

How beautiful this is & how fortunate you are.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1839098529 Lorraine Referente

so awesome, i am so inspired!
http://twitter.com/hudjean Jean Hudson

this is a stunning home for you and your family i love it
http://www.facebook.com/people/Valerie-Orphanos/1343028361 Valerie Orphanos

The most beautiful house I have ever seen….a fairytale.well done
http://www.facebook.com/people/Michelle-Gee/100000551858921 Michelle Gee

Inspiring! Intelligent! Awesome Home. Worth more than money…is a live dream.
http://www.facebook.com/rhodeswriter Matt Rhodes

The way of the hobbit is the way to live!
http://twitter.com/juramontenegro juracy montenegro

Fantastic !! specially for this time in the world.. so much garbage…millions people have no houses to live…it s the simple way to share home for the global warming refugies… Favelas in my country it s really ugly compair to that,,,kkk
http://www.facebook.com/people/Danu-Fox/668217872 Danu Fox

Beautiful, I am inspired. Thank you for sharing this.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_R5ILHKBDTO72I6CWPMOPBRL5TA Flame

Absolutely amazing!! My husband and I have 11 acres and dream of building there soon. We are leaning more towards a concrete dome and doing most of the work ourselves. Now I’m even more excited to get started!
Inger Cooper

It looks wonderful, but:
a) did you own the land for starters
b) did you apply for planning permission
c) does the building meet all Health and Safety regs.
d) did you use well seasoned wood or it it likely to be eaten up by unwelcome grubs
I would just like to know out of pure curiosity
Regards, Inger (ex Norwegian, 82 year old lady)
- nicole faith
  
  who cares really! I mean unless you are actually going to build one and arent just being a butt
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=631966635 DJ De-Anarky
    
    The questions relating to land ownership, wood seasoning, H&S regs are all valid and interesting for people who would like to emulate the self build shown here. Please remember Nicole that probing questions are useful. ‘Question Everything’ is a fine motto and just as apt for things we like and support as for things we don’t.
    No need to be defensive on behalf of Simon and his family.
    I know of many people who have built their own homes, on MO’s, on family land, in urban and rural areas and they all have different hurdles to negotiate.
    Let the discussion be unfettered so we can know the issues Simon has faced and the ones that he has avoided.
    Peace
    D
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1561209202 Montford John Greenwood

Would never be “allowed” in the land of the free.
- http://twitter.com/fashionRIP deborah j barnes
  
  makes me think of a doc “Garbage Warrior” (?) who was/is building in southwest USA .He ran into trouble but won a reprieve with some post tsunami construction that lifted his global profile. I am not sure what is happening now,,but bless the do-ers!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5YKKBLYZ2Z3R6OBBLUTGC73DKU Merde!

I think it is the most wonderful home! Ignore the people spouting laws. We want away from control. Beautiful home!
nicole faith

Good thing its really none of your business. Great Job on the house guys!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003218342734 Sharon Hirtle

The organic look of the building is a little like the Michael Reynold’s “Earthships” architecture, in respect to respecting the ecology anyway. Cost can be a little higher though.

Website to check out http://earthship.com/component/forme/?fid=4

Design Principles:
Electricity: from sun and wind.
Water: from rain and snow.
Sewage:sanitary treatment.
Heating and Cooling:
from the sun and the earth.
Food: grow inside and outside.
Building with Natural and Recyled Materials
pradeep kumar

WoW! one of my dreams too
Clare Evitt

Inspirational
Anonymous

I love this! I wonder how and where in the US this house could be built, with all the building codes and permits we have to adhere to….anyone have any ideas??
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=717101046 Jocelyn Wagstaff

Brilliant I love that people are heading back to what they love and truly being apart of the earth! This place will yield many beautiful times all the best to them and this wonderful place and i hope it inspired everyone to seize their dreams and achieve them!!!!!!!!
john maurer

Sorry Mate, Don’t you know us Yanks ar’nt responsable or smart enogh to have a home that can’t be taxed or regulated??? Although, if you already own a Mc Mansion you may be able to build auxiliary building that doesn’t exceed 200 sqft.
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BBBCFDYZTHECPOFZOABHFB2CTY GreyGhost
  
  Well you enjoy your cave…I’ll mine….taxes and all..I prefer to move away from the stone age and live in the real world..such as is…
  - john maurer
    
    ??? apoIoGEES, I was replying to dunfordm. I guess my attempt at english humor isn’t that funny. I think the little house is really cool. Good work Simon and Jasmine.
http://www.driesbultynck.be/ Dries Bultynck

Impressive!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1425176947 Nora Wagner

You two are so lucky.I’ve always wanted to live in a place like that.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1207729981 Kim Land

I love it. it’s gorgeous. and those children will grow up with a special love for the earth and all nature i bet. why not go back to the simple ways of life?
http://www.facebook.com/Terkeldc Terkel Dons Walther

What about Bathroom?
Anonymous

Home looks great. Hope it stands test of time and English weather. No chance of building such a home in Australia, way too many regulations despite a growing number of folk keen to try to live a simplre life. The country is basically in thrall to McMansions and developers who spread their high maintenance homes scarring the earth forever.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Powell/100000601809975 Dave Powell
  
  it wont have to survive any english weather – its in Wales –
  - Anonymous
    
    Good point. I hope it also survives the Welsh weather.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Julie-Dunn/1634976373 Julie Dunn

Absolutely Fabulous and Inspirational
Chantal Noordeloos

That is one of the most gorgeous houses I have ever seen in my life!! Well done!!! I wonder what it is like to live in such a lovely place!
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http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=650811271 Niall Lawless

truly magical ……. wonderful ……. splendid …… hats off to the man …… really really the way forward ….. a shining example to everyone ……… true leaders are least known to their followers ……….. simon you are a innovative true leader ……
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Patti-Kaizer-Hirtle/813680083 Patti Kaizer-Hirtle
  
  hats off to the woman as well, lol
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1770170043 Michael Taylor

Join Eco Houses and Alternative Designs for American Homes on Facebook.
Anonymous

well done for doing it and getting the details out there to inspire us.
up until recent history of course we all built our own homes for thousands of years!
it is time we got back to our roots on soooo many levels.
i understand there is a new law going through for building on greenfield sites as long as they are off grid, ie no sewage or power supply.
it is already through in wales and england is following.
let there be more off grid communities where living is in tune with nature.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Annie-Jeffs/100000513453481 Annie Jeffs

I want one!
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http://www.facebook.com/people/Elke-Bijl-Ackermans/100001180361720 Elke Bijl-Ackermans

Very impressive and really really really gorgeous!!! Love this house!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Cathie-Bernicky/898125203 Cathie Bernicky

Magical, wonderful, awe inspiring. I don`t think I`m too old to attempt a home like this (yet). So cozy and yet open. Just shows what a person can accomplish with a lot of hard work and a dream.
http://www.facebook.com/people/David-Ellis/100002727342311 David Ellis

What about building regulations? Does it meet legal requirements?
- http://profile.yahoo.com/JUWB4QDOUF6J6B5UQX2YMCZQFE dave_loves_life2000
  
  always gotta be an asshole somewhere that wants to comply with government regulations on everything, that’s all about padding pockets and giving them more money. Gee i wonder what the caveman did with building codes, duh! they didn’t have any, and all was good and home is home no matter what you make of it? does your sheeple ass think that homeless people in card board boxes should have box regulations too? find a life dude and leave people alone. don’t be such a dick!
  - http://www.facebook.com/ianmarkyoung Ian Mark Young
    
    What a rude, objectionable and pointless response. Why interpret David Ellis’s comment as toadying and curmudgeonly? The way I read it is “This home is truly magnificent and I would dearly love to build one like it for myself and my family. Please tell me that I can do this without the local authority turning up and ordering me to tear it down”! Many of us are not irresponsible chancers. We find ourselves obliged to live in the real world and are subject to regulations whether we like it or not. It is you who should “leave people alone”, at least until you learn to be more circumspect and tolerant.
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=606672082 Moira C. Delaney
      
      How refreshing to read someone addressing ignorance. dave_loveslife2000′s response was uncalled for and ignorant. ‘dave_angry_atlife2000 would possibly be a better screen name. Thank you Ian!
  - Anonymous
    
    Please, you can still write your views without being rude.
    Also, you cannot spell worth a darn.
  - Anonymous
    
    Yes, yes. We’d all rather live in a world where we’re allowed to endanger the lives of others. I for one would love the opportunity to force small children to extract gold from the recycling of PCB motherboards, but for those damnable regulations against both child-labor and hazardous waste!
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=700497062 Ste Passant
  
  Ultimately it would all be at the discretion of the Building Officer involved, because the “Regulations” are actually ‘guidance notes’ at the end of the day.
  
  Here are a few excepts; reading them with an open mind does not preclude compliance, it’d be the details that would need to be negotiated!
  
  “The Approved Documents are intended to provide guidance for some of the more common building situations. However, there may well be alternative ways of achieving compliance with the requirements. Thus there is no obligation to adopt any particular solution contained in an Approved Document if it is preferred to meet the relevant requirement in some other way.
  They are given legal status by the Building Act 1984.
  
  “Regulation 7 stipulates that building work shall be carried out with adequate and proper materials which:
  (i) are appropriate for the circumstances in which they are used,
  (ii) are adequately mixed or prepared, and
  (iii) are applied, used or fixed so as adequately to perform the functions for which they are designed; and
  (iv) in a workmanlike manner.
  
  “You may show that you have complied with Regulation 7 in a number of ways. These include the appropriate use of a product bearing CE marking…
  
  -Ummm.
  
  What a fantastic project; you’re an inspiration to us all, and something I’d dearly love to do myself!
- http://www.facebook.com/patty.barnes1 Patty Barnes
  
  Oh blah blah blah…..I’m sure it does..But here in rural Missouri their are no requirements….
Anonymous

My Dream House! !! *****5
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http://www.facebook.com/people/Lot-Vanduffel/726209799 Lot Vanduffel

Beoutifull!!
Anonymous

Beautifull and clever ! Congratulation from France!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Oliver-Döhring/100002763761145 Oliver Döhring

My biggest respect man! I´m a german carpenter and doing organic shapes in my furnitures as well, which i build from local timbers… But this work is topping it all ! absolutely gorgeous !!
Just go out there and start.. Thats the way ! i like the idea to cut down costs and regulations and keep gouverment laws, architect rules etc. outside, as long it fitts in nature suroundings and the work is not doing harm to somebody or something. Great idea is the compost toilet and solar thing which saves us tones of water what we cannot save enough… go on whith this projekts and your ideas.. it great .. and again respect ! I´m loving it Love from Germany Oliver
http://twitter.com/goddesslite anne simpson

Its Like “Wind in the Willows” and ” Lord of the Rings” its Beautiful …
http://www.facebook.com/people/Joni-Gentle/100000187445917 Joni Gentle

it reminds me of a hobbit home
http://twitter.com/merciamcshane mercia mcshane

wow just love it!! What would it cost to build this in SA? Just wondering.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002248942145 FranZisska TheBookwitch

I would like to have one in the Netherlands !!!
http://twitter.com/Tessieepoo Tess Quintana

Hey family,
It is a lovely home you built, I enjoy your work, your amazing home, and the nicest photos of a cousy home, I have always wanted to do something like this, as soon as I get a piece of land I will write for advice, please post more.
Take care and congrats for an amazing work, noble and accord to nature.
Tess
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Anonymous

Weird! Yesterday my daughter and I were RANDOMLY looking at houses wit Red doors on Google Images. We were clicking along when we came upon this house, opened it, loved it, discussed it, than moved on. We didn’t do that to any other of the images. All RANDOM! Than less than 12 hours later, Daily Good posts this same little house. What is the likelihood of that???
Anonymous

Magical!!! Very nice!
Anonymous

There is a very good and helpful book called The Little House by Leslie Armstrong. It explains and gives directions, blueprints, down to the very last NAIL, how to build a little house. I have written Macmillan Publishers to ask them to please reprint this book. Found it at my local libray, where it is now getting ragged!! The copies listed on Amazon are for used books and are expensive. Everybody, PLEASE write to them and ask to reprint this very valuable book!The house plan is not as lovely as in this article, but it would help a lot of people to build and own a home! The house detailed is adaptable, affordable, modular, low-maintenance home that is suitable for all types of climate and terrain.
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http://www.facebook.com/julia.downing1 Julia Jessica Downing

Oh my god this is so amazing and i can not believe the price and the time it took….well done to you both…stunning xxxx
Marc Eisenhuth

This man truly loves his family
http://www.janicetantonblog.com/ Janice Tanton

Congrats on such a wonderful, inspiring home and family. Thinking of what this will look like here in the Canadian Rockies!
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http://www.facebook.com/people/Bernard-Pelacuer/100002850481525 Bernard Pelacuer

Admirable, What a house !!!!! “Home sweet home” …..pour de vrai !!!!…
Vraiment superbe !!!!! et pour le moins…..bon marché….!!!!! du temps et encore du temps…. quand celui ci = plaisir….c’est vrai qu’on ne le compte plus…….!!!! Quelle chance !!!!!
Reste le terrain…?????
Une creation à base d’Amour, d’imagination, et encore d’Amour….
bravo! et merci!
http://www.facebook.com/BeverlyAbbasGirlhello23 Beverly Abbasgirl

I really want to build one now!
Anonymous

Fantastic house, what are the lights in bottles, i presume they’re solar?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=781540821 Kat Sol

LOVE it!!!!!! GREAT job showing how to live! Blessings to you!
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http://www.facebook.com/people/Dana-Elisabeth-Walker/1385965289 Dana Elisabeth Walker

SO IMPRESSIVE!!! A great idea for many! Thank you for posting in such detail. You have inspired a lot of people.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Evagle-Francklin/711681931 Evagle Francklin

I will be buying some land in Jamaica. How possible would it be to build a similar dwelling? Please contact me [email protected] for any suggestions. Ta A. Earle
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http://www.facebook.com/arne.morken Arne Morken

Even though Simon moved from the “Hobbit house” years ago to continue his work on sustainable, beautiful and affordable homes that everybody can build in the Lammas ecovillage, his story remains an inspiration for all of us. Thanks!
Brendan Amorose

It definitely looks like a house straight from a fairy tale. It kinda reminds me of the house the elves live in. LOL! It would be a little girl’s dream come true. My daughter would surely love to live in a place like this!

Brendan Amorose
http://www.facebook.com/corzani Christoffer Corzani

Where is the TV?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1699995773 Sarah Jenner

an amazing achievement congratulations ..it is our dream .. but sadly our health and lack of finances dont allow .. but we do all we can where we are –
LynnIvory

Oh Man, I would so live there
James Deane

I want to build myself something just like this.
http://profile.yahoo.com/CWEZWEQIOWQDYSGXGH5VHNSG5Q Brandon

As much as I love it, I have to say that those are going to be some miserable teenage years when those kids grow up and want some privacy.
- Junglistikpitman
  
  it took them 4 months to build surely they can build another one in time
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http://www.facebook.com/people/Hiroto-Taichi/671429172 Hiroto Taichi

wonderful house!!! I wanna go! I am building my house too. Welcome Japan.
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http://www.afterhourscreative.co.uk/ Peter Saunders

That is incredible! I want to live there!! lol In fact, i want a place like that as my new office
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http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000079376577 Rafi Snowden

absolutely awesome!
Pamela Wells

Simply amazing… I knew I wasn’t crazy that fairy’s do exist although I always figured ya’ll would be a lot smaller… Thanks for keeping a 50 year old kid believing…Beautiful.
Smartarse1

Ah, but does he drive a car to get there?
Ldaley

Love it! It put me in mind of a Hobbit house!
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edmund bonheim

Yes I Love it.I admire the spirit of the Person who build the House.
Monito_chulo

Amazing place!!! Wish I had one like it. Maybe in paradise….
=)
Lisa Willowdancer

I could live like this, very happily.
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peter brooksBrookzartz

natural genius must be allowed to grow and prosper for a better system than Jack Booting the given environment in the flawed name of progress.
peter brooks

homes that merge with the natural environment and actually assist it are a viable option to the Greco/Roman stick and brick outrageously expensive land swallowing displays they are now.
Piperm

Amazingly creative, a beautiful & wonderful house…. but I’m curious….
where’s the BATHROOM??
- http://profile.yahoo.com/44LGVOV2TBV5HTAXQLVCYXUEDM MsMet
  
  Self-sustaining–gotta water and fertilize those trees somehow! LOL
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http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=545785805 Debbie Harwood

absolutely beautiful and cleverly designed…so so pretty too…lucky family growing up in this
http://profile.yahoo.com/44LGVOV2TBV5HTAXQLVCYXUEDM MsMet

Coolest. House. Ever. If you ever want to sell, i’ll pay Triple!
Discouraged

it’s extremely sad to know that this is a rare exception. Unfortunately, planning laws makes these sort of things extrememly hard to do. It’s illegal to build a small house like this on your own land and live off of your own crops. Even Simon Dale on his website recommends not bothering with planning permission as the councils are so against it. The government has no interest in these things as they don’t contribute to the economy. They would rather people be homeless that do things like this. The world is crazy.
Garbleblock

i agree about the planning permission. however, if i ever do get the chance to buy a big enough plot of land, i’ve promised myself that one day i will create a fully furbished, fully sustainable, full eco-friendly Hobbit home, almost exactly like the ones shown in Lord of the Rings. No expense spared…
Guest

Absolutely gorgeous!
I hope to see a follow-up piece in about 10 years, after the wood has begun to rot and the kids are in their teens.
- James
  
  In the mean time, for relatively minimum investment, they have an outstanding home with minimal overheads for about the cost of four months rent in a terrace house in an unattractive suburb of a nameless city. Maybe even a great career start in sustainable building. Good on them! What a great place to raise kids
Janet Payne

I love it !! I’m sure as with any home there will be maintance and replacing of parts perhaps even additions. I would not be too quick to sit back and watch it fall apart,it maybe around for his children and grandchildren to enjoy!
Abby

It is beautiful. But there is absolutely no privacy, for the parents or the children. That could get awkward.
puddy

OMG there are no words , this is sooooooooooooo magical!!!!!!!!!!!
Snoopie55

very cool
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1286326614 Alexandria Wolf

Wonderful and inspiring.
home extension brisbane

Very nature living place. its too nice
http://www.facebook.com/beverley.hodges.7 Beverley Hodges

Beautiful, keep on keeping on; you are a wonderful example to sustainability
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=551655900 Jennifer Thompson Henderson

Love this house, it is so pretty!
Crainshanna

This is just amazing!!!!What a wonderful place and a talented guy!Icould live here for the rest of my life and it just shows that you can have nice things that don,t cost an arm and leg…
Sarah

Thank you for your love of the earth and I think it looks like a little Hobbit home. So inviting and warm. You have done a great thing not only for others but also for your children. Resuse…
http://www.facebook.com/anna.vicari1 Anna M. Vicari

i am amazed… so wonderful… i just love everything about it. simon dale is a man with imagionation. and skill. GOD BLESS YOU & YOUR FAMILY.
Trevorjohnson316

I’m very interested in doing something like this , or joining an already formed community. Any idea’s please?
- Ashley Squiers
  
  http://www.simondale.net/house/involve.htm This is from Simon Dale’s website, if that helps!
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Jo

we’re being evicted from rental property and could do with some advise on how to get started fed up of giving other people our money which is dead money!
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lizzie hilton

My dream life would be to live in a shack in a wood. Nothing fancy, but how do you find land cheap enough. Lucky if given the important bit!
Rick

WOW! This is a dream come true. I hope I cna have one too.
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http://www.facebook.com/thomas.senator Thomas Senator

Sadly the problem around where I live it would be nearly IMPOSSIBLE to get a building permit for such a great home ! Overbearing Government regulations and “feel good” legislation practical forbids “alternative” humble abodes ….
http://www.facebook.com/harelemoine Lucy Hare LeMoine

I love it
Bill Dale

Just wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. We have dreamed about creating a home like this for so long, but the planning loopholes here are so daunting and so restrictive. But we are inspired and, one day, truly hope to be able to emulate your creation. It must have something to do with the surname! Maybe we’re related. If so, maybe you would like to help your long lost cousin build something similar in the Isle of Man?
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Jane Rabi

my dreamhouse ..:)
Maria Theresa Ann

I think you did a great Job !!! I would love to have a cob home myself,
just don’t know if I could get use to the rustic nest, but it would be
sure fun to have one built.

I think If I were handy or my hands
were stronger and I was years younger, I’d love to try to built one,
maybe I can built an additional room onto my existing home. I wonder if
I would need a permit for that.