Thanks for this continuing journey, Kyle. It gets my imagination wondering about what might be possible, though I did build a 1200 square foot house last year, much of it myself, though not the framing, plumbing or electrical work. Less than 1/3 of the internal walls are sheetrock, and only the downstairs ceilings. Lots of screwed-in plywood, good insulation and well considered windows for airflow as desired.
The embodied energy is a long term family investment.
I naturally wonder if bamboo could become a mode of construction in the Texas coastal plains.
This really gets me thinking regarding building another bungalow. I've told my daughter that my worst nightmare living arrangement, lived in by a large number of Americans, is an overpriced 4000 square foot mansion stuck in some HOA where you can't even decide what plants to put in the ground, which has other houses two feet away on each side of it, a 6 foot by 8 foot cement slab for a back yard and the same area for the front yard. Yet people do God knows what kind of unfullfilling crap to pay $5000 per month mortgages, HOA, insurance and interest just to live in such places. I concur with your ideas!
I read Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, a while back and she mentioned visiting someone who built houses from all-natural materials, one of which looked like a mushroom (and had a ladder so you could sit on the roof). Do you have any idea who this is?
I live in an 1840s farmhouse which was really rundown when we bought it. Still needs work, will always need work, but it's kept us dry for 40 years (and generally warm these days). Would love to find someone who would like to live on 44 acres in central Maine and help out with the chores -- we're 70 and 72 -- but it seems difficult to connect.
Endlessly fascinating../Would bamboo be a material to use in the North of the Country...Midwest U.S. where it's been below Zero until these last days when it reached 32 degrees fahrenheit. Can imagine the use of straw here as we have loads upon harvesting the wheat; but it's next to impossible to consider some of what you're suggesting for this area.
Very sad story about Costa Rica; and all too common in what's known as the Third World having people with far greater common sense than the Imperialist Fascists you're defining 'Globalists'.
Architecture should be localized and suited to the local conditions and building materials. It was always thus until the modern era. Housing design and architecture have become globalized and mass produced as you say, but it may be changing. The following article appeared in Aeon today and may be of some interest.
As I read your writings, the only thought that rises to the top is “OMG! This is the perfect man!” Truly. I am amazed at the things some men can do! In my day, every man wanted the corporate ladder. And where could most men learn even a quarter of the things you know!? So...I put dibs on being your next wife! 🤓👋
I love all the great info in this article, as well as your story-telling ability. Hope to implement some of these building techniques one day too, but can't easily do adobe where I live - too wet & humid :( I also thought the timing on your article was very synchronistic, what with the Sun moving into Aquarius (Jan 20) and the Sabian symbol of 0-1 Aquarius being "An old adobe mission" :)
In March, Californians will vote on "Proposition 1." This measure is about "mental health" services. It proposes to use existing tax resources, plus new bonds (over 6 billion dollars!) to provide housing and services to the homeless, as well as other people having trouble. It is a notable act of charity. But will it actually change the situation?
What if it were the actions of members of the ruling classes that was the major cause of homelessness (and mental health problems) in California? If this were so, then all that expenditure would get thousands of people off the streets, only to be replaced by thousands more, as the the true cause of the problem had not been addressed.
Your article points out how the construction industry, and several other factors, have chosen home building technologies that are expensive, wasteful and toxic. There are over 13 million "households" in California. Most of them probably live in conventional houses and apartment buildings. There is no way in the near future that this basic situation is going to change.
A conventional house can easily last for 100 years. As replacement costs go up, more houses will be kept alive by repairing them. Choice of technologies is in the hands of home owners, landlords and developers. If their minds are changed, you could eventually, maybe in a century, see a change in what sort of houses survive into the future. There is no way the state could provide enough financial incentive for builders to pick bamboo or adobe over conventional wood frame (etc.).
Meanwhile, a few smart people will build a few extraordinarily smart houses. Hopefully these will be impressive enough to make an impression. But the chances that bamboo will be used in modern urban high rises is quite small, though I believe something like this has been attempted. On top of that, to get rid of a modern skyscraper you have to hit it with a DEW in a staged "attack!"
While we need not stand by and just watch the latest corporate invader take over the galaxy, they will plod on with their business most likely regardless of our private choices, until our private choices become so pervasive and powerful that they can no longer be ignored. And then corporate might finally change its mind about the wisdom of being in the business of invading other planets and will settle down on their own planets to do something more sensible.
Thanks for this continuing journey, Kyle. It gets my imagination wondering about what might be possible, though I did build a 1200 square foot house last year, much of it myself, though not the framing, plumbing or electrical work. Less than 1/3 of the internal walls are sheetrock, and only the downstairs ceilings. Lots of screwed-in plywood, good insulation and well considered windows for airflow as desired.
The embodied energy is a long term family investment.
I naturally wonder if bamboo could become a mode of construction in the Texas coastal plains.
Grass and weeds grow well here...
This really gets me thinking regarding building another bungalow. I've told my daughter that my worst nightmare living arrangement, lived in by a large number of Americans, is an overpriced 4000 square foot mansion stuck in some HOA where you can't even decide what plants to put in the ground, which has other houses two feet away on each side of it, a 6 foot by 8 foot cement slab for a back yard and the same area for the front yard. Yet people do God knows what kind of unfullfilling crap to pay $5000 per month mortgages, HOA, insurance and interest just to live in such places. I concur with your ideas!
I read Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, a while back and she mentioned visiting someone who built houses from all-natural materials, one of which looked like a mushroom (and had a ladder so you could sit on the roof). Do you have any idea who this is?
I live in an 1840s farmhouse which was really rundown when we bought it. Still needs work, will always need work, but it's kept us dry for 40 years (and generally warm these days). Would love to find someone who would like to live on 44 acres in central Maine and help out with the chores -- we're 70 and 72 -- but it seems difficult to connect.
Endlessly fascinating../Would bamboo be a material to use in the North of the Country...Midwest U.S. where it's been below Zero until these last days when it reached 32 degrees fahrenheit. Can imagine the use of straw here as we have loads upon harvesting the wheat; but it's next to impossible to consider some of what you're suggesting for this area.
Very sad story about Costa Rica; and all too common in what's known as the Third World having people with far greater common sense than the Imperialist Fascists you're defining 'Globalists'.
Architecture should be localized and suited to the local conditions and building materials. It was always thus until the modern era. Housing design and architecture have become globalized and mass produced as you say, but it may be changing. The following article appeared in Aeon today and may be of some interest.
https://aeon.co/essays/the-architectural-style-wars-have-started-all-over-again
Of course! I believe that is done in Colima, just down the road.
I don’t know about the Sal Marina operations, but when you arrive, you can teach me what that is. Ok? 👍
It’s meant to be Kyle! You’re brilliant and share a sense of humor! I’m in Bucerías, Mexico...c’mon over!
As I read your writings, the only thought that rises to the top is “OMG! This is the perfect man!” Truly. I am amazed at the things some men can do! In my day, every man wanted the corporate ladder. And where could most men learn even a quarter of the things you know!? So...I put dibs on being your next wife! 🤓👋
I love all the great info in this article, as well as your story-telling ability. Hope to implement some of these building techniques one day too, but can't easily do adobe where I live - too wet & humid :( I also thought the timing on your article was very synchronistic, what with the Sun moving into Aquarius (Jan 20) and the Sabian symbol of 0-1 Aquarius being "An old adobe mission" :)
This give me such HOPE for the future!
THANKS for all your good work.
Fantastic article. I know there are straw bale builders here in Wisconsin. Thank you for going into such depth on this subject.
Excellent article, thank you.
The truth can be heartbreaking. Thanks for all your work, Kyle, and for helping pioneer natural housing.
In March, Californians will vote on "Proposition 1." This measure is about "mental health" services. It proposes to use existing tax resources, plus new bonds (over 6 billion dollars!) to provide housing and services to the homeless, as well as other people having trouble. It is a notable act of charity. But will it actually change the situation?
What if it were the actions of members of the ruling classes that was the major cause of homelessness (and mental health problems) in California? If this were so, then all that expenditure would get thousands of people off the streets, only to be replaced by thousands more, as the the true cause of the problem had not been addressed.
Your article points out how the construction industry, and several other factors, have chosen home building technologies that are expensive, wasteful and toxic. There are over 13 million "households" in California. Most of them probably live in conventional houses and apartment buildings. There is no way in the near future that this basic situation is going to change.
A conventional house can easily last for 100 years. As replacement costs go up, more houses will be kept alive by repairing them. Choice of technologies is in the hands of home owners, landlords and developers. If their minds are changed, you could eventually, maybe in a century, see a change in what sort of houses survive into the future. There is no way the state could provide enough financial incentive for builders to pick bamboo or adobe over conventional wood frame (etc.).
Meanwhile, a few smart people will build a few extraordinarily smart houses. Hopefully these will be impressive enough to make an impression. But the chances that bamboo will be used in modern urban high rises is quite small, though I believe something like this has been attempted. On top of that, to get rid of a modern skyscraper you have to hit it with a DEW in a staged "attack!"
While we need not stand by and just watch the latest corporate invader take over the galaxy, they will plod on with their business most likely regardless of our private choices, until our private choices become so pervasive and powerful that they can no longer be ignored. And then corporate might finally change its mind about the wisdom of being in the business of invading other planets and will settle down on their own planets to do something more sensible.