An earth-built passive solar house: cob (south), strawbale (north)

[VintageS4L]

Great video, I happen to live in a part of Minnesota that doesn't have any set building codes with the exception of well & septic regulations. Having a home with 2' thick walls is very appealing considering the frequency of -35F temps we battle, our winter is 5 months long, thanks for sharing your time and knowledge Michael.

no need to be rude maradi.

[wheelori814]

@VintageS4L might want to check out rocket mass heaters to go along with the cob house. very efficient and doesnt burn a lot of wood!

[attilamaradi]

great design but voice is fucking annoying.

[kricotas]

@000Winter000

in mexico is posible!

i will made one i just need all the info,,,,? how to made it....?

[flyhighfreebird22]

Love it! Good work.

[stap0510]

@000Winter000

Why do you want to know?

Just out of curiosity I had to ask.

[EcoDimension]

looks like  the neverhood

[HappyHooker83]

Do you ever have issues with insects coming in to the place?

[yourgardens]

i really like your work man

[WindIove]

Nice video.. great house.. but I can't find myself to watch it any longer. :/

[kiwisonfire]

My compliments to you for your unique design and well thought out home. What state and micro climate are you living in? Are you keeping energy use data logs? See James H. Klippel's Sun Crest cottage or Terra Homage video to see a similar organic passive solar concept.

[kirstendirksen]

@kiwisonfire I am not the builder, but I filmed the video with Michael. The homes shown are all on the Emerald Earth Sanctuary property, an intentional community in Mendocino, California.

[Mikdeelo]

Thanks, very good. Read and continue to re-read portions of The Hand-Sculpted House. To leave CA and build a cob is my dream.

[MrDaverrymer]

hot guy

[Anothercoilgun]

This is a really good series. That cob house is getting more coverage than the mansions in Beverly hills.

[GrdnovGreens]

Absolutely love this! My main concern would be tornado's. Living at the tail end of tornado alley, those things are always on my mind. I've read they are stronger than traditional built, is that true?

[kirstendirksen]

@GrdnovGreens I think strong is relative. As Michael says (in video "natural buildings don't melt"), "it's all the same forces acting on both of them [earthen and wooden structures]." He talks about 1 structure he built being under water after a flood for 3 days & it being fine (so more durable than a wooden structure). I'm not sure about tornadoes, but I'd guess that cob might be the sturdiest of all earthen structures. I think it's similar to concrete as far as strength.

[hunhun23]

THat's how the ancient Anasazi's(indian cliff dwellers) used to live. They built their homes out of the earth loacted in the Four Corners Of the United States. Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona

[vention4wh]

That looks like an awesome house, probably too big for my modest needs though. Heck I basically live in my master bedroom and unless I have company going or a project, my living room just sits empty.

[vention4wh]

"They" always tell us we need more space and more stuff. They're lying.