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I have this burning desire, I want to build my own home. Not a big home, just something simple and with plenty of character.
I’ve been in a few houses that have been hand built by the owner/occupier and I’m always flabbergasted by the uniqueness and feats of human capability and ingenuity.
I love the challenge of starting with raw materiel’s and constructing something that can last for years as a shelter and place of comfort. This weekend I’m felling timber to start work on a small cabin project, it’s really a practice for a bigger project.
I’m really walking blind with this build, nonetheless I can’t wait to see the results and am eager to develop new wood skills.
There will come a day when I have some coin and spot that perfect patch of soil in the hills I’ll construct my own house with these two hands. After working in the garden and working the farm by day, I will no doubt crack the top of a coldie and put my feet up on the couch, warm my toes by the fire and smile that smile of contentedness.
Images courtesy of The Yard
good idea! my husband is a log home builder and it is a beautiful home to have. One of a kind! Love the pictures. Very inspirational.
Love these images Ro.
I would think that living in something built by my own hands or those of someone I love would be immensely rewarding and satisfying.
do it, and if you havent already, check out Shelter by the great Lloyd Wright Khan, much dome and woodsman wisdom. I have worn out my heirloom copy from hours of leafing through it.
You’re a modern day Henry Thoreau….what a wonderful dream….
Dude,
Check this vid out…. I want to get the full DVD. You may have seen it already but I reckon it’s right up your alley.
“”Alone in the Wilderness” is the story of Dick Proenneke living in the Alaska wilderness. Dick filmed his adventures so he could show his relatives in the lower 48 states what life was like in Alaska, building his cabin, hunting for food and exploring the area.”
I too have a dream of building a log cabin – just need to find some adequately arable land, near the ocean, with a nice creek that I can afford!
All the best with your practice run this weekend – working with timber is most satisfying!
Dave
I never tire of watching those two doco movies with Dick. Very inspirational.
This is my dream too Rohan! I know it’s a questionable sounding website, but have you looked at freecabinporn.com? Amazing place for cabin inspiration, and a nice place to escape to when i need a break from work…
Hellsyeah! It’s on my friends list….I love escaping there!
Go for it. Follow the dream.
Am really excited for you Rohan! Exactly what I hope to do in the coming years…
that’s very exciting – hope your project goes well :)
Do you know this book? http://www.hardiegrant.com.au/books/books/book?isbn=9781740661478
…all about beautifully made homes of various rustic, natural and environmentally considerate kinds. It is one of my favourites – one of the books I revisit the most.
I have a dream of building a one bedroom cabin in the woods too. Maybe with some solar panels, a loft for future kiddos/guests, and a big garden in the back! I think I know of the perfect place in the Rocky Mountains!
Hi Rohan, I hear you and this is something that I’ve been ruminating on now for some time. I’ve recently ordered a copy of the ‘The Timeless Way of Building’ book. Beyond this I’ve been helping a mate renovate his home and to set the scene it is an older style home at the bottom of a forested gully, that is being transformed from a traditional 2 bedroom cottage into they home they want to live. Pretty much everything about the reno has been built by hand from largely recycled materials (excluding major appliances). To say it is a labour of love doesn’t do it justice and I look forward to embarking on a similar journey myself.
two thumbs up for man skills!
And to add more food for thought, check out Simon Dale who built his own home for ~$5,000, check out http://www.simondale.net/house
I think you can do it.
My husband and I are a little obsessed with the idea of building our own little studio. Lloyd Kahn is our biggest inspiration. I’m pretty sure that you’re already aware of these sources of inspiration, but just in case here are some of my favorite resources on the topic:
This video is long, but it is well worth it (PLEASE watch it if you haven’t already)
Handmade Houses: A guide to the Woodbutcher’s Art (Photos are incredible)
http://www.amazon.com/Handmade-Houses-Guide-Woodbutchers-Art/dp/0891040013/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1342705146&sr=8-2&keywords=handmade+houses
Sunray Kelley (an eccentric genius)
Handcrafted Modern:
http://www.amazon.com/Handcrafted-Modern-Home-Mid-century-Designers/dp/0847834182/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1342705413&sr=1-2&keywords=handmade+modern
All of Wharton Esherick’s work, his hand build house is 40 minutes from our house and it is mind blowing:
http://www.amazon.com/Wharton-Esherick-Journey-Creative-Mind/dp/0810995751/ref=pd_sim_b_4
And this quote from Steve Job’s is one of my favorite guiding principles of making things yourself:
“When you grow up you tend to get told the world is the way it is and
you’re life is just to live your life inside the world. Try not to bash into
the walls too much. Try to have a nice family, have fun, save a little money.
That’s a very limited life. Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact: Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you and you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use.
Once you learn that, you’ll never be the same again.”
Is that Roy Underhill in the top photo? PBS FTW.
Ahh… me too… meeee too. There’s nothing quite like a handmade home. Handmade anything, really. I hope you’ll document the process of building on your blog someday. It’ll be nice to see that happen. I’m sure with your new book it can’t be too far off. ;)
It’s an awesome idea. When my Dad was a kid, my grandpa made his own bricks and built his family a home. It was sold a few times but my Dad eventually bought it back. It was in such a bad state but he just couldn’t bear to demolish it, so he fixed the whole thing. Now two generations have built it and kept it standing, I feel like I need to step up next!
Hello,
I have recently discovered your lovely blog with all your great inspirational ideas and photos!
Reading an article this week made me wonder if you would maybe be interested in Cordwood buildings?
Here are two links:
http://www.cordwoodmasonry.com/index.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/19/garden/cordwood-masonry-gains-new-fans.html?_r=1&smid=fb-share
Sophie, in Quebec, Canada