BARBARA – RAMMED EARTH HOUSE
The Barbara House is our largest rammed earth house plan, but with a minimal footprint! Designed for this natural building method, this home’s 18” think solid earth walls bring the cleansing powers of clay and dirt inside. For more on rammed earth, see below.
Its 1700 sf voluminous plan consists of a 840 sf main floor level w/ an Open Living/Kitchen, a 1st Floor Master Bedroom (or home office) with en suite Bath, a Powder Room and stackable, hidden Laundry Closet. Upstairs consists of (1) Shared Bathroom, (2) large Bedrooms with high ceilings and dormers to allow in lots of light (860 sf). The exterior is designed with an inviting raised wood decking, surrounded by planter boxes, off the living/kitchen space. The front entry includes a roof overhang for deflecting harsh, hot daytime sun. Whether you are looking to build in the suburbs or on 200 aces, this house is perfect for anyone interested in living in a true earthen structure.
Looking to downsize or just simply lighten your load & footprint on the planet?
Are you seeking an affordable yet high quality home?
Are you a developer, organization or municipality looking to implement affordable & sustainable housing developments or villages?
I Want This One!
Custom Modifications & Healthy Interiors are Available
Not quite what you need, but nearly there? We will work with you to adjust the plans to fit what you and your family need. We also have an add-on option for healthy, non-toxic interior finish specifications!
RAMMED EARTH CONSTRUCTION
Designed for this ancient natural building method, this home’s 18+” thick solid earth walls bring the cleansing powers of clay and dirt inside. Low maintenance, no exterior or interior finishing required (depending on your climate). For more on rammed earth, check our Natural Building page and Member’s Club!
BUILDING PLAN TESTIMONIALS
"April saved the day for us with the perfect small home to fit our budget. We had tried to use plans online and do everything ourselves, but it took April's know-how to design a functional, beautiful home and work with local officials on approval. A lot of people gasp when we say our house is fewer than 500 square feet with a 200 square foot loft, but they always gasp again when they go inside -- because it doesn't feel "tiny.". The ample porch space, the open floor plan, and the lots of windows help keep the space from feeling too small. Throughout the building process, April has helped inform our decision to keep our budget reasonable and build the best for our climate. We couldn't have made our dream a reality without her and her invaluable expertise! Building a home is one of the most important things we have done. We tried to cheap out on it. Luckily, April was there to save our dream."
"Especially in the architect field, you are a gem to find because not everyone wants or can build a high end, luxury home. Some of us just want a eco friendly home of a small/moderate size, but finding an architect to do that is a challenge. A lot of architects only want to design typical stick built houses with huge, expensive floor plans. I didn't want a poorly done, mass produced home. I was losing hope on ever getting our home built and ready to hang up our plans until I spoke with you."
Ashley Bean, Family of 8
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