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7 Shelters You Need to See
Tiny Insights from the Countryside.
No.049 — Read old posts on Tinyfarmlab.com
Reading Time 4 minutes
Our journey in designing and building our cob house has been deeply inspired by various projects and remarkable individuals.
Today, we’re excited to share seven shelters that have profoundly influenced our vision and motivated us to create our own unique space.
1) Hobbit House or “ Tokri Ghosla” at Geeli Mitti Centre of Excellence
In 2020, we visited Geeli Mitti, a research and training institute, for an intensive natural building workshop. We instantly fell in love with the place, its ethos, and the gentle curves of the shelters.
This Hobbit house or the Tokri Ghosla was made in collaboration with Brice Mathey of Love Shack Company.
These buildings inspired us to move away from right angles and embrace the natural beauty of organic shapes.
2) Katherine Wyvern’s Cob cottage
We remain in awe of this beautiful home and the incredible dedication Katherine poured into its creation.
She single-handedly transformed a stone ruin into a stunning cob house, with 90% of the work done alone—and all without using any power tools.
Katherine Wyvern’s cob cottage
3) Simon Dale’s Strawbale Home
Simon built this house for his wife and kids with the help of his father-in-law, friends, and passers-by. He estimates to have built the house in 1000-1500 man hours, and 3000 euros in materials.
Simon Dale’s Hobbit home
He took inspiration from Lloyd Kahn's book 'Shelter' and his reciprocal inspired by his then-neighbor Tony Wrench, who also inspired us to build our reciprocal roof.
4) Atulya’s Earthbag Home
Atulya Bingham’s earthbag home, nestled in the Turkish hills, is a powerful example of sustainable and self-sufficient living. It was built almost entirely by her own hands and with the help of her neighbors.
Picture: The Mud Home
Her story showed us that building in a remote place is not only possible but also incredibly rewarding. It gave us the confidence to pursue our dream of creating a home that truly connects with nature.
5) SunRay Kelley’s home
SunRay Kelley, often hailed as the master builder of the counterculture, is renowned for his whimsical, nature-inspired structures that defy conventional architecture.
SunRay’s fearless creativity and commitment to building in tune with nature have inspired us to break free from traditional design norms.
His work encourages us to embrace imagination and build spaces that are not only functional but also expressions of our unique vision.
6) Sigi Koko’s Teachings
Sigi Koko has been a virtual guru and mentor for us, guiding our journey in natural building with her deep wisdom and practical expertise.
As one of the most sound and profound teachers in the field, Sigi’s approach combines a strong foundation in sustainable practices with a deep respect for nature.
Picture credits: Sigi Koko
Her teachings have been instrumental in our journey, offering us both the knowledge and the inspiration to build with intention and care.
7) Henry David Thoreau’s shelter at Walden
Henry David Thoreau's small cabin at Walden Pond, where he lived simply in harmony with nature, has profoundly influenced our life and design philosophy.
His shelter, built with minimal resources, symbolizes the beauty of simplicity and self-sufficiency.
Let us know which one was your favorite by replying to this email :)
Love,
Raghav and Ansh
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What you can watch - Learn Live Laugh in Luscious Love-Shack Land - [Sustainable natural buildings with cob]
What you can listen to - Living in the Future Episode with Simon Dale
What You Can Read - The Architect Has No Clothes
Why does modern design tend to look so harsh and feel so unhospitable?
P.S. - Do you imagine owning a land? Watch this video as we deep dive into various factors you should consider when buying the land of your dreams.
P.P.S. - Whenever you are ready, here are 2 ways we can help you-
#1: Have you seen our YouTube Channel? We are putting a ton of energy into creating heaps of valuable content that we think you'll like. Come check out our latest videos, and give us a like and subscribe.
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