Live Out Your Cottagecore Fantasies in an Earth House
Since the time humans have roamed the planet, various forms of earth houses have been built. In their most primitive form, a home was built from organic material including soil, clay, sand, and straw, according to Angi.com. From the 20th century through today, earth houses have regained popularity and taken a more modern form, offering an environmentally friendly and homely way to live in the rural comfort of nature.
The modern earth house is said to have been designed and created by Swiss architect Peter Vetsch in the 1970s. The homes are built as if they are a part of the landform in which they are located, almost hidden in the landscape as earth covers the home rather than the other way around. An “earth house complex” by Vetsch exists in Switzerland, consisting of 9 earth houses. Taking a look at the homes from the exterior, one can barely see the house itself, giving each structure a small, cottage-like appearance. However, looking at the inside, the homes are spacious, clean, and completely modern. It’s as if looking at a newly built, single-family home in the suburbs. Indeed, the homes range from having 3 to 7 bedrooms. And they’re not completely excluded from the living practices of the common public. The neighborhood includes a man-made lake in the center of the community, parking-lots, basements, and spaces to grow your own personal gardens.
Image Courtesy: My Modern Met
“The Vetsch earth homes utilized a thick layer of soil, as well as a metal mesh frame, shotcrete, and foam insulation,” says C.E. Larusso. This design allows the homes to keep in both warmth (during winter) and cool air (during summer), reducing energy consumption levels by multitudes. Earth houses are green in more ways than one. “To ensure an overall organic design, there are no straight lines and sharp edges. Everything is freeform and intentionally uneven and with a handmade allure,” according to homedit.
Earth homes not only reduce energy bills and save the world with their natural, organic structural build, but they’re also each uniquely designed to ensure a bond between its owner and their natural surroundings. An earth house seems like your ideal cottage-core dream, but is it worth investing in for the long run?
One of the largest disadvantages of owning an earth home is the cost to build and sell it. Earth homes reportedly cost about 20% more to build than the average house. It’s also important to make sure it is constructed properly, as the home could face issues with water leakage from storms or mold from excessive humidity if it is not waterproofed. When selling, many could be disinterested in adopting the “Hobbit” life—some have never even heard of or seen an earth house in the real world. Larusso brings up that decorating could also be a cause for concern, as each earth home’s unusual structure could “pose some logistical hurdles when installing flooring, cabinets, built-ins, or other finishing touches.”
But you don’t need to commit to the earth home lifestyle if you want to simply experience a day and/or night in one. Just look through housing websites such as airbnb.com (not affiliated) to find an earth home in your area, they’re all across America. And if you're outside of the country, there are still plenty of options.
Here are some of the coolest I came across in the U.S. for under $500 a night:
Broadway, Virginia:
For two
$149/night
Image Courtesy: Airbnb
Strike Out,
Parmis Etezady
Boca Raton
Parmis Etezady is a Content Writer for Strike Magazine Boca. In her free time, she likes to collect records, go to rock concerts (or blast music in her bedroom), and obsess over vintage fashion. You can reach her at petezady@gmail.com.