A man has built a hillside home reminiscent of a hobbit house from JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings — on a budget of just £3,000.
Simon Dale constructed the woodland home for his family in Wales, taking only four months to fully complete the project with help from his father-in-law. Built with "maximum regard for the environment" it contains a cosy living room, an open-plan kitchen and a split-level bedroom area. The home is also adorned with fairy lights and wooden furniture to complete the look.
"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 simple, sustainable lives," he said.
Designed to be fully sustainable, the home is heated by a wood burner while solar panels on the roof provide power. It also has water supplied by a nearby spring — completing provider-free utilities.
"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," said Dale. "Building from natural materials does away with producer's profits and the cocktail of carcinogenic poisons that fill most modern buildings".
Dale completed the home while his wife and two children camped in the nearby countryside, moving in after the timber frame and roof had been completed. Despite having no previous experience as a builder or carpenter the ambitious plans came to fruition.
"This kind of building is accessible to anyone. My main relevant skills were being able bodied, having self belief and perseverance and a mate or two to give a lift now and again," he explained.
Dale is currently working on a new home in Pembrokeshire as part of the Lammas project, Wales' first authorised 'low impact' ecovillage.
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