Indoor Flowers

We've had many questions about the building over the years since this website began - our faq section details the main questions with our responses.

Miscellaneous FAQs



Frequently Asked Questions concerning miscellanea

Do you have any tips/pointers/positive directions for me to head? Books, advice givers etc

My main tip is to "think perfect" - rather than focus on what can "go wrong" spend your energies focussing on what can "go right".

I don't really have any references which I regard as biblical - apart from purely technical stuff which you can find more up-to-date versions in Amazon or similar.

However there is a Delightful Lady in the US - Ms Charmaine Taylor who runs an excellent site for resources at www.dirtcheapbuilder.com which would be an excellent starting point.

Apart from that there are several natural building mailing lists etc, I found most are largely US-centric and useful for discussing ideas in abstract but not for specifics.

Quentin Wilson runs an Adobe group but - again - not too relevant for rammed earth.

I have read that rammed earth is a cheap alternative but how cheap is it?

As to cheapness - I think it is however, if you solely judge by the financial cost of construction then you may disagree. To me the cost is spread over the life of the building, I made ours to last at least 200 years - obviously there are bits which would need replacing - but the main structures will last at least that. Which means that we can divide our construction cost by a factor of 8 to compare with the cost of a 25-year life-span construction which is pretty well today's standard.

Also there is the cost on the environment, a more challenging estimate, I figure the fewer synthetic components the better so the earth and timber are very friendly and renewable resources, the tin, concrete and glass less so. Certainly there are much-reduced heating and cooling costs.

Anyway that's how I reckon the building compares price-wise. As to the construction cost - most estimates will come up with a figure roughly comparable to a gyprock-lined, cavity-brick walled structure of the same design. Certainly a brick veneer is cheaper to build, but then you have to live in it afterwards.

I don't think our costs would be of much use to you since, as owner builders we put in 3+ years labour without cost and the design is not one that a conventional builder would welcome for cost-minimisation.

One 'compromise' could be to build an earth 'core' and extend that as you need additional space using materials which suited your time and budget.

How did the local council react to your plans?

The local council - well some of the individuals were helpful but whenever I came up against the 'book' it felt like a brick wall, eventually (in the case of the earth floors) their attitude became - "don't tell us - we don't want to know".

In the end it seemed they were just people doing their best to deal with the "power" their positions "gave" them over builders and on a good day they were helpful but if their wife had PMS then my life could be made very difficult. (so to speak)

Do you think that intuition is guidance from spirits, from a higher "self", or just the imagination running wild?

For me intuition is something from within myself - of your choices I'd say a higher "self" would be closest. I think our bodies are generally very smart things but we befuddle them with so much school-learnt head- "knowledge" (which is really only someone else's opinion) that it gets harder and harder for the body to be heard. These days it gets real sick or dies for a lot of folk who still don't or won't hear what its telling them. To me intuition is my body saying "that feels good" or "that don't feel good". The rest is details.

Would you mind directing me to more information about this on the web or some other publication?

Umm I wish I could but apart from Findhorn (which was where I obtained the unresponsive contact details) I am unable to suggest anything. The term 'Reciprocal Force' was coined by the engineer and is not a term I have seen used anywhere else - I am sure there is a name for the structure which would produce successful results in a search but I have no idea what it might be.

What would be your advice for someone starting to build?

I focussed on 'everything is perfect' - whether I understood it or not at the moment. Sure enough all 'disasters' and 'dumbness' turned to delight and design - in time - and the process was a joy overall. And yes, we did 'hit the wall' but in time overcame the block and got to where we are today - not complete building-wise but happily at home.

Why did you choose an octagon - was it sacred mathematics?

The octagonal shape is, to me, the strongest for a dwelling, or any structure really, circular is too difficult to furnish and accommodate and rectangular is - well look at what passes for civilization in the west (IMHO).

I suppose what I regard as sacred mathematics may have contributed - 2 raised to the power of 3 - but, in truth, I feel the design was largely 'channelled'.

I drew it one night as a design for a home in which to run residential workshops called MindVision, 9 years later and countless 'redesign' attempts we started building, the original design was the same as I drew that first night. It had successfully resisted all my attempts to 'improve it'.

Its hard to argue with facts like that (-;

And yes - the roof is remarkably similar with the octagonal opening in the centre - I was averse to a large and weighty metal structure overhead - 'The Sword of Damocles' kept runing through my mind - a photo of Findhorn's Meditation hall provided the perfect solution for us.

how did you find the costings for this type of house compared with conventional dwellings?

As to the costing - the design is so unusual (I've been told) that it is not easy to compare with other building costs - also there was 3.5 years of our unpaid efforts included and what does one cost those at? My attitude is that this will last for at least 200 years as compared with the 25-year lifespan of most contemporary dwellings. On that basis the cost over the lifespan makes this far cheaper than any other system. Ah - the joys of rationalisation (-;, still on a planetary level I feel it is a valid view.

I hope that you do get your dream - as you say all things come to those who wait, stay focussed and one day it will be yours. Our kids are in Britain and, although we miss their company at times it is great to see them out there under their own steam - as you say .......

I am interested in the engineering that went into the roof beams. Could you give me some pointers?

As to pointers - I could probably answer specific questions about how we did things but the main pointer I think you will already be familiar with.

I focussed on 'everything is perfect' - whether I understood it or not at the moment. Sure enough all 'disasters' and 'dumbness' turned to delight and design - in time - and the process was a joy overall. And yes, we did 'hit the wall' but in time overcame the block and got to where we are today - not complete building-wise but happily at home.


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