Give you shelter? Go fish!

June 29, 2007 11:07 AM

That dream home isn't shaping up the way you'd hoped? Build one from scratch! You could start with a lovely thatched hut. Here's some more. Here's an African one. No vegetation up there where you live, above the Arctic Circle? You can build an igloo. For somewhat warmer areas, a yurt. No Asian import for you? There's the tipi. Need more space? A longhouse is just the thing. For more substance, a sod house. Even better - adobe. Have a look at these "Cave" houses. More ambitious? Build a castle. Whatever you put up, you'll probably need an outhouse. Unless you live on a boat.
posted by Kirth Gerson (18 comments total)

My uncle built a lighthouse on top of a hill in my hometown, near the highest point in the county. You can see Mount Airy from there! You just can't see the ocean.

Clearly, he's a bit eccentric. I, on the other hand, plan to build an underground home near the 100-year floodplain in my town, with an eye on turning it into a hidden catacomb that will crouch, hidden, for centuries after I pass on. This seems much more reasonable and practical.

What?
posted by infinitewindow at 11:16 AM on June 29, 2007 [1 favorite]

Wow, I love that cave house and I bet it stays really cool in the summer.

I always wanted a tree house, which is a good option for those who don't want to pay rent in NYC but live in Central Park.
posted by Viomeda at 11:27 AM on June 29, 2007

I hoped to build a house with prefabricated reinforced cast concrete pipe sections like this, put in flat "deck plating" a few feet off the floor, and have all the utilities underneath. Would need lots of ceiling access to make it livable though! :)
posted by anthill at 11:35 AM on June 29, 2007

I'm looking forward to retiring to my van. Down by the river.
posted by disclaimer at 11:37 AM on June 29, 2007

See also.
posted by ColdChef at 11:39 AM on June 29, 2007

There was once a thread on AskMefi about Scott Adams building the Ultimate House, but I can't find it for the life of me.
posted by ColdChef at 11:57 AM on June 29, 2007

You know, a castle has always seemed out of reach, but your links really made it come into perspective for me. If the freaking Normans did it, so can I...

Thanks, Kirth Gerson, you've revived an old life goal of mine!
posted by invitapriore at 11:58 AM on June 29, 2007

This is the house, by the way. Still can't find the AskMe post on it.
posted by ColdChef at 11:59 AM on June 29, 2007

Here it is: What sort of "neat" things and convenience features would you design into your dream home?
posted by ColdChef at 12:02 PM on June 29, 2007

It's no decommissioned missile silo, or Bucky Fuller-inspired geodesic dome, or anything cool like that, but I'm helping a friend build one of these right now. Assorted pics here. It's fun, except the tendons in my left hand are completely screwed up from swinging a pickaxe last week.
posted by exlotuseater at 12:12 PM on June 29, 2007

Neat post, with a lot of great ideas in it. Have you seen FUTURE HOUSE NOW? It's one of the few non-geek rss feeds I have, and I love it.
posted by boo_radley at 12:15 PM on June 29, 2007

Excellent collection of links, a dream post for my day off and fuel for my ambitions, thanks!
posted by kaspen at 12:34 PM on June 29, 2007

Mud huts are surprisingly cool, and not at all as dirty as you'd expect. Of course, when sharing one with a brood of chickens, things can get a little hairy.


...don't ask.
posted by i less than three nsima at 12:37 PM on June 29, 2007

Life au naturel pour le pooch: A dirt insulated dog house that doubles as a planter.
posted by nickyskye at 12:42 PM on June 29, 2007

Or a bird's nest bed for that thatched hut.
posted by nickyskye at 12:45 PM on June 29, 2007

A Low Impact Woodland Home
posted by homunculus at 2:03 PM on June 29, 2007 [3 favorites]

homunculus, That low impact woodland home is adorable! a beautiful, charming place. I want to live there!!!
posted by nickyskye at 5:28 PM on June 29, 2007

Me too! Though I'd settle for the Mushroom House.
posted by homunculus at 12:46 PM on July 3, 2007