Today we joined the
Ecovila Clareando, in Piracaia. I'm really excited about this, because it's the first big
YES my gut has given me about pretty much anything about living in Brazil since I came here. I'd almost forgotten what it feels like to experience that kind of affirmation of a path I want to take. I've been more cautious about making life-changing snap decisions since my first kid was born, but I waited until my gut gave me three or four huge YESes and continued to do so even as I took steps to make it happen.
The next step is to build a house there. Right now this is close to what I have in mind: (
look here for more specs)
This is a plan for a house made of straw bales. We are going to build with earthbags, though, as the materials are cheaper and more available, and it's easier to do round shapes with earthbags as they are stronger and don't require the buttressing that straight walls do. The half of the house with a larger radius (of 18 feet) is two feet longer than the recommended radius for an earthbag roundhouse, unless you buttress, but the inner walls will provide some buttressing so we might be able to get away with just putting in a couple on the outside. I am thinking of making those buttresses into life-size animal
sculptures made out of earth. Like an alligator, for one of them, or perhaps a seated camel.
Building round and small is ecological because it won't require post and beam construction, thus using much less wood...and requiring less skill in the builders (I'm going to be one of them!). Round is harder to furnish, of course, but I think creative solutions can be found for this. The only problem I see with this model is I don't know where we would put the fireplace. We could try to do some kind of solar-powered radiant floor heating, but I think that would be very expensive and complicated.
We also would build an additional small studio roundhouse for guests to stay in, as well as for me to work in--both writing and hopefully Rolfing again--and generally as a place for me to get away from my husband's television addiction.
CONGRATS!!!!! This is awesome.
ReplyDeleteI really like that house plan to. Very functional and really interesting and different, unique.
I would have a ball landscaping that, as you could really do some interesting things with the exterior. Considering your location I would put some large Royal Palms and even Acai. I don't know if the location is warm enough for them, however.
Good luck and please keep us updated!
I hadn't thought at all about the landscaping, but when you talked about the trees I started imagining it. I think Royal Palms would look great there too. We actually planted an acai tree here but it died. The place gets quite cold at night, I think colder than my current location. But it's going to be fun to research!
DeleteWow, what a great house plan! I am really excited for you, what an interesting and unique house you will be living in!
ReplyDeleteThanks, C.M.! I am excited too.
DeleteHow exciting, Colleen! When does construction hopefully start?
ReplyDeleteThe ecovila requires that we use an architect and an engineer, which I fear may nearly double the cost of construction (considering that earthbag houses are cheap to build). On the other hand, at least someone will answer all my questions about proper placement of additional sustainable features like the graywater usage, solar panels, fogao a lenha etc. So things won't progress that quickly. Right now I'm researching and contacting architects for quotes. In another few weeks we'll watch an earthbag building DVD and in June we'll probably do a four-day class. I'm not in a HUGE hurry to move. By the way, the four men who did the kidnapping from a few weeks ago are in custody! The one of the four who lives in this town started spending a bunch of money, when he doesn't have a job and is on drugs all the time. When he was caught, he ratted on all the others.
DeleteOK it can't possibly DOUBLE the cost of construction. But it won't be cheap!
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