Into the wild: 12 secluded homes and structures built away from civilisation A mysterious cottage isolated from the rest of the world. Photo: Amusing Planet. Every now and then, we all dream of living a peace and quiet life off the grid. Maybe the thought creeps up on us when work is starting to feel like Groundhog Day, or perhaps it's just an ongoing internal longing for some real isolation. On this note, we've gathered some of the most secluded homes and structures in the world, all located off the beaten path, among Mother Nature, and deep into the wild. So take a few minutes and venture away from the cramped crowds and tedious traffic by picturing yourself relocating to these dwellings far, far away from civilisation – even if it's just through the land of your imagination. 1. Advertisement Our first thought when laying eyes on photos of The Crystal Mill; is this place even real? Photos by Lady Lone Ranger 2. Located on the island of Vágar in the Faroe Islands, the village of Gásadalur possessing breathtaking views holds a small population of 18. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Ancient Art of Stone Celtic Round Houses and Hill Forts The Celtic tribes lived in scattered villages. They lived in round houses with thatched roofs of straw or heather.The walls of their houses were made from local material. Houses in the south tended to be made from wattle (woven wood) and daub (straw and mud) as there was an ample supply of wood from the forests. The houses had no windows. The roof was made from straw with mud placed on top to keep the warmth in. The houses in the north were made with large stones held together with clay. The Celts would light a fire in the middle of the roundhouse for cooking and heating. The smoke from the fire escaped through a hole in the roof. Animals were often kept inside the house at night. A wattle wall confined the animals to one area. Farmers Most Celts lived in scattered farming communities surrounded by a bank with wooden fencing and a ditch to keep out intruders and wild animals. Farmers grew wheat and barley, and reared sheep, goats, pigs and cattle. Celtic Hill Forts
So I decided to build a viking hut, step by step instructions Tiny Wind & Solar Powered Home Lets You Live Off The Grid Anywhere In The World Ecocapsules, designed by Bratislava-based Nice Architects, promise to let anyone live off the grid for up to a year. Each unit is equipped with solar panels, a retractable wind-turbine, and a design that captures rain water. Inside, you’ll find a kitchenette with running water, a flushing toilet, and hot shower. The Ecocapsule “is suitable for a wide range of applications,” write the designers, such as an “independent research station or a tourist lodge to an emergency housing or a humanitarian-action unit.” Those interested in buying one will be able to pre-order at the end of 2015, with delivery in the first half of 2016. A display unit will be show during the Pioneers festival in Vienna on the 28th-29th of May. More info: ecocapsule.sk | nicearchitects.sk | Facebook | Twitter (h/t: gizmodo) In 2016 you will be able to live off the grid in one of these Ecocapsules The Ecocapsule relies on wind and solar power, and collects rain water But most people might just want to enjoy them
Live Edge Siding An option for siding you may have seen but not known much about is live edge siding. Brian Liloia, a.k.a. Ziggy, is putting some on a strawbale home he’s building and recently shared the photo above on his blog. Live edge siding is basically boards that have not been cut strait on one side. Instead they are left with the natural curves of the tree. You probably won’t find this kind of wood at any big box home improvement store, but through specialty suppliers or directly from the folks that milled the boards. It takes a bit of care to cut boards like this so you might expect to pay a bit more for them. But it’s hard to argue that the extra time, money, and effort isn’t worth it… the final product is very appealing and really gives the home a unique personality. You can follow Ziggy’s strawbale house progress on his blog.
untitled Pearltrees - Organize all your interests - web pages, docs, PDF, notes, file manager 3 Benefits of Roundwood Timber Framing As if it really needed specific mention, wood is a truly precious building resource. Finding new ways to preserve this resource, to be frugal with its use, but to still take advantage of the excellent properties of wood in our home building is a great concern. The use of timbers in building has a long and varied history, and there is growing interest in timber frame home construction — the use of large posts and beams, with traditional wood joinery, and without the use of metal fasteners. Roundwood timber framing uses whole poles, or whole trees for posts, beams, and other framing members. Benefits of Roundwood Timber Framing Roundwood timber framing uses whole trees In typical timber frame construction, trees are milled down to square dimensions — 6×8, 8×8, 8×10, etc. However, if using the roundwood timber framing method, the tree can be used in its entirety. Materials can be grown more readily Roundwood — strong and beautiful Learn Roundwood Timber Framing Related March 1, 2012 July 23, 2011
8.4 - Shelters - Semi Permanent Shelters [DSG] If the situation permits, more advanced dwellings can be constructed. For a large building job, a group of people should be organised into smaller sub groups each with different tasks — This permanent lean-to uses trees for the main supports and is simple to construct. The ridge pole is held against the trees at about 3 metres high by two or more long forked poles, leaning at an angle from the ground to the ridge pole. For extra security, bury the angled beams instead of just letting them rest on the ground. The frame poles from the thatch battens are lashed separately, with a square lashing, to the forked frame pole. The bunk is made separately and attached to the supporting forked pole. Next the hut can be thatched. Simple and sturdy walls can be built by stacking logs or large sticks between upright stakes, and filling the cavity with dirt. This can be used as the basis of a larger structure, a sturdy barrier, or a simple wind block. Materials for Lashing