Inspired by the book Handmade Houses, French teenager Menthé built this cabin of timber and plaster in the woods of southwestern France, starting in 2000; it took him three years.
Sun-filled interior of 100-year-old converted schoolhouse in New Mexico. Thick adobe walls, high ceilings. All materials used in renovation were recycled. 1000 sq. ft.
The skylight is openable.
Hobbit house in Colorado canyon with waterproof concrete block walls and circular ceiling of local Ponderosa pine logs. 900 sq. ft.
Atulya Bingham moved to Turkey and lived in a tent while building this earthbag home for $6000. No cement was used and it’s 100% solar powered. 330 sq. ft.
He does his painting upstairs, and builds boats downstairs.
Jesus Sierra’s wooden yurt in the English woods, inspired by Shelter and Home Work. It took 1½ years and is 345 sq. ft.
Wall in cordwood home of Rob and Jaki Roy on a lake in northern New York. Four-inch-thick cordwood walls have 4 inches of lime-treated sawdust insulation between inner and outer mortar joints. 600 sq. ft.
Marlin Hanson and his dad built this timber frame home on Canada’s Sunshine Coast over three summers. Marlin had worked in marine construction and used the same strong construction methods they used under piers. 1280 sq. ft.
Stone home in southern Spain built of local rock and chestnut roof timbers salvaged from a 200-year-old house. 450 sq. ft.
Scott McClure built this timber frame cabin from second-growth Douglas fir trees from the site on the Oregon Coast Range. Woodstove heating, LED lights, well-insulated. 1110 sq. ft.
Building materials had to be hauled to the difficult site by hand. Shakes for roof steamed to achieve curves. All dimensional lumber was milled from local trees. 600 sq. ft.
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