I've become obsessed with a "weird" house

[Khephra]

It was on one of those unique homes shows.

This guy built up a mound with bulldozers, and then poured concrete on top of the mound. Once it had hardened, they dug out the dirt from the inside and put it on top of the concrete. It ended up being like a Hobbit home.

[theivoryqueen]

1. that is highly cool

I sculpt with cement and love to hear new applications. It is the most forgiving medium I have found. Plus pretty permanent!

[Waistdeep]

2. I think Paolo Soleri used this technique

since the 1960s. Arcosanti was the community in Arizona, if I recall correctly.

[Khephra]

3. Thanks for the tip!

I don't know if that's the same stuff, but it's great as well. Fascinating!

[Waistdeep]

4. He called it earth casting

He used it for sculpture and also building construction. Same idea --- mound up earth, pour concrete (reinforced, I assume ) over the mound, and then hollow out the mound. I think they also did cool things like decorating or coloring the earth or sand before the concrete was poured so that the design was impressed on the inside of the concrete when it was hollowed out.

Solari incorporated the apse prominently in his architecture for energy efficiency and these are easy to mold into the design.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0879051507/103-9474009-0679005?v=glance

[TreasonousBastard]

7. I seem to remember some of them in gulches...

and they were waterproofed for the rainy season when the river ran. Didn't sell too well because you really should move out when they're under water.

He's the guy with the bells, isn't he? Made more with the bells than architecture, but you need people like this around.

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. I would hate to have to appraise that.

Once I had to appraise a geodesic home. The whole work of an appraisal is to find at least three comparable sales. They are to similar to the structure in size, shape and utility. Could you imagine?? :hi:

[davsand]

9. Yes, I CAN imagine!

FWIW, the taxing officials hate them for that same reason.

Just what every appraiser wants to deal with--a rural Geodesic Dome. (with an added traditional sun-room and garage!) THAT is my idea of a good time!!!

We had a local couple who built a house out of straw bales, and that generated a huge issue as well. I DARE anybody to find comps for THAT!

IMO, any of the non-typical homes people build never will re-sell for what they paid to construct them. Cave homes, earth berms, straw bales--you name it--it works for you and that is great, but you are gonna have a horrible time selling it later.


Laura

[Wcross]

6. Check this out

http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/earthship.htm

It deals with all those unique building techniques.

[TreasonousBastard]

8. Dunno if that's the cheapest way to do it...

but underground buildings and surrounding berms have been popular in some areas to solve heating and cooling problems.

I think it was ancient Persia where they had a buch of them, with ventilation provided by a high and a low "chimney" that caused a draft due to the differentials between the air temperatures and wind currents.

I was always fascinated by the idea of living in a hole in the ground, but most people would go nuts without windows.

And it'd be just my luck that someone parked a car on the escape hatch when a fire started.