To cut a two-year story short, the house has an earth floor with a cow-dung render, some solar electricity, a Dowmus composting toilet, all recycled doors, windows and stairs. We were also acutely aware of the source of all timbers used, strenuously avoiding anything from old-growth or tropical rain forests, including imported hard-woods. This was not easy.

It takes a while to become objective about something that took all my time and energy for two years, but I have got to the point where I can imagine how I would admire it if I visited this house and it belonged to someone else. It is a beautiful, friendly, welcoming, warm, organic structure.

My favourite "feeling" is the lack of distinction between inside and outside. Since the walls and floor are of the same materials as the trees and the ground outside, there is a great sense of overlap between them...the difference being that we keep the elements out.
 

Here's an outside rear view. Click it for an enlarged version Notice the Solar panels on a 14m pole behind.

If you areoin the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia or know someone who is, we are always delighted to share our house, vision and ideals with people in the hope that we can influence others to be more considerate in their building practices.