All-natural off-grid mobile round house

Project

269596

Status

Submitted

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NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS AWARDS : existing completed examples

Project title

All-natural off-grid mobile round house

Full project title

Description

In a beautiful place out in the country, in wineyards near forests, we built an all-natural removable mobile round house ("upgraded yurt") that is not firmly attached to the ground and is not connected to any utilities. It's fully off-grid and self-sufficient. The electricity is generated by the low-budget high-economy solar system for no more than 1000 EUR. A composting separation toilet is included. It's standing here for almost 5 years already and we are living here daily for 2 years.

Where was your project implemented in the EU?

When was your project implemented?

Has your project benefited from EU programmes or funds?

Which programme(s) or fund(s)? Provide the name of the programme(s)/fund(s), the strand/action line as relevant and the year.

Please provide a summary of your project

In a beautiful place out in the country, in wineyards near forests, we built an all-natural removable mobile round house ("upgraded yurt") that is not firmly attached to the ground and is not connected to any utilities. It's fully off-grid and self-sufficient. It's standing here for almost 5 years already and we are living here daily for 2 years. The whole construction consisting of folded parts (wall/floor) is made from sparingly used (local) natural materials (wood, straw for wall panels, clay, stone, insulation: sheep/hemp wool + natural oils). (detachable) Foundations of the house are formed by wooden beams fixed on screws (ground screws) in the original stones / rocks in a slope. The structure was installed gently to the terrain, which was not modified, except for small gardening handicrafts. The soil under the house, where there is free space, is "breathing" without permanent deformation of the landscape. The round shape protects the house against wind. Ventilation is provided also by the opening round skylight in the middle of the roof and fresh air from the forest. The black locust bushes blending with the roof (which is white) protect the house terrace against heat. The electricity is generated by the low-budget high-economy solar system for no more than 1000 EUR, consisting of two solar panels 500W total and a 230Ah/2500Wh solar battery. With a 600W 12V/230V converter, it's fully sufficient to power all the basic home equipment including small refrigerator, washing machine, cleaner or string grass-cutter (without petrol). The internet connection is provided via a satellite (wireless). The composting separation toilet is backfilled daily with sawdust from wood waste ("dry" toilet, also against smell), "black" water is for compost. The maintenance is needed after weeks. The house as a realistic example is "open-source" for everyone (solving climate change is the priority), everything is non-commercial.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of sustainability and how these have been met

On a sunny day in November, December and January the solar system charges about 1 kWh (1000Wh) stored in the battery, it lasts weeks of operation for the equipment even if only with occasional partial charging. The power of the device with the highest power consumption is 400W. To save energy, the refrigerator is turned off depending on the outside air temperature, and the food is stored on the terrace instead (in winter all the time). For cooking, a gas cyliner connected to the double plate stove is used. In winter also tile stove for cooking and heating plus oven for baking (also saves gas). We use (eco) briquettes for heating (from sawdust, plant/food waste, smaller "fallen" wood from forest. Ash is used as a backfilling into the composting toilet, directly into the compost or to melt snow on the natural stairway. The sources of water are rain, well (flowing uphill through hoses paradox - we use also the well from down the hill), spring/public supply (for drinking water), even snow - gravity (water flowing down to the building) from the 1000 litres water container with stored water from the well. In winter only the upper thinner layer of water freezes, the rest flows. To save water, we also use the 12V/20W saving shower from 20/30 l canister (from 10 l / min.). Hot water is provisionally solved by a heating spiral 12V/230V (from approx.) 75W to the water canister. The whole water system is yet to be sophisticated. Dishes are washed with eco product ("gray" water for irrigation), which is "refueled" (without repurchasing new packaging). Some fruit, vegetable, herbs are already grown on our own (we don't use any pesticides nor any chemicals), respecting biodiversity (not cutting grass/flowers too much). Animals are our good friends already. :) Our aim was also to find the harmony between nature and technology.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience beyond functionality and how these have been met

We prepare the further project which includes the revitalization of wineyards (environmental/cultural heritage) in connection with building a complex sustainable development community cooperating in addition in building renewable energy (local resources as solar, water, waste wood) off-grid systems with its own storage batteries, local food farming & barter, local cooperation, environmental/human ecology education (the houseowner 64- year-old Ms. Ing. Jana Balážová, PhD. has the long-term experience), consultancy etc.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of inclusion and how these have been met

The whole construction consisting of folded parts (wall/floor) is made from sparingly used (local) natural materials (wood, straw for wall panels, clay, stone, insulation: sheep/hemp wool + natural oils). (detachable) Foundations of the house are formed by wooden beams fixed on screws (ground screws) in the original stones / rocks in a slope. The structure was installed gently to the terrain, which was not modified, except for small gardening handicrafts. The soil under the house, where there is free space, is "breathing" without permanent deformation of the landscape. The round shape protects the house against wind. Ventilation is provided also by the opening round skylight in the middle of the roof and fresh air from the forest. The black locust bushes blending with the roof (which is white) protect the house terrace against heat. The house as a realistic example is "open-source" for everyone (solving climate change is the priority), everything is non-commercial. Some fruit, vegetable, herbs are already grown on our own (we don't use any pesticides nor any chemicals), respecting biodiversity (not cutting grass/flowers too much). Animals are our good friends already. :) Our aim was also to find the harmony between nature and technology. We prepare the further project which includes the revitalization of wineyards (environmental/cultural heritage) in connection with building a complex sustainable development community cooperating in addition in building renewable energy (local resources as solar, water, waste wood) off-grid systems with its own storage batteries, local food farming & barter, local cooperation, environmental/human ecology education (the houseowner has the long-term experience), consultancy etc.

Please give information on the results/impacts achieved by your project in relation to the category you apply for

In a beautiful place out in the country, in wineyards near forests, we built an all-natural removable mobile round house ("upgraded yurt") that is not firmly attached to the ground and is not connected to any utilities. It's fully off-grid and self-sufficient. It's standing here for almost 5 years already and we are living here daily for 2 years. The whole construction consisting of folded parts (wall/floor) is made from sparingly used (local) natural materials (wood, straw for wall panels, clay, stone, insulation: sheep/hemp wool + natural oils). (detachable) Foundations of the house are formed by wooden beams fixed on screws (ground screws) in the original stones / rocks in a slope. The structure was installed gently to the terrain, which was not modified, except for small gardening handicrafts. The soil under the house, where there is free space, is "breathing" without permanent deformation of the landscape. The round shape protects the house against wind. Ventilation is provided also by the opening round skylight in the middle of the roof and fresh air from the forest. The black locust bushes blending with the roof (which is white) protect the house terrace against heat. Some fruit, vegetable, herbs are already grown on our own (we don't use any pesticides nor any chemicals), respecting biodiversity (not cutting grass/flowers too much). Animals are our good friends already. :) The house as a realistic example is "open-source" for everyone (solving climate change is the priority), everything is non-commercial.

Please explain the way citizens benefiting from or affected by the project and civil society have been involved in the project and what has been the impact of this involvement on the project

The house as a realistic example is "open-source" for everyone (solving climate change is the priority), everything is non-commercial. The house was built in cooperation with craftsman volunteers under the supervision of the civic association Ekovesnice. The price of a low-energy round house (yurt) 50 m2, which is "breathing", depending on the equipment is about 50 000 EUR.

Please highlight the innovative character of the project

The whole construction consisting of folded parts (wall/floor) is made from sparingly used (local) natural materials (wood, straw for wall panels, clay, stone, insulation: sheep/hemp wool + natural oils). (detachable) Foundations of the house are formed by wooden beams fixed on screws in the original stones / rocks in a slope. The structure was installed gently to the terrain, which was not modified, except for small gardening handicrafts. The soil under the house, where there is free space, is "breathing" without permanent deformation of the landscape. The round shape protects the house against wind. Ventilation is provided also by the opening round skylight in the middle of the roof and fresh air from the forest. The black locust bushes blending with the roof (which is white) protect the house terrace against heat. The electricity is generated by the low-budget high-economy solar system for no more than 1000 EUR, consisting of two solar panels 500W total and a 230Ah/2500Wh solar battery. With a 600W 12V/230V converter, it's fully sufficient to power all the basic home equipment including small refrigerator, washing machine, cleaner or string grass-cutter (without petrol). The internet connection is provided via a satellite (wireless). The power of the device with the highest power consumption is 400W. We use (eco) briquettes for heating (from sawdust, plant/food waste). Ash is used as a backfilling into the composting toilet, directly into the compost or to melt snow on the natural stairway. The composting separation toilet is backfilled daily with sawdust from wood waste ("dry" toilet, also against smell), "black" water is for compost. The maintenance is needed after weeks. Gravity (water flowing down to the building) from the 1000 litres container with stored water from the well (flowing uphill through hoses paradox). We also use the 12V/20W saving shower from 20/30 l canister (from 10 l / min.). Hot water is solved by a heating spiral 75W.

Please explain how the project led to results or learnings which could be transferred to other interested parties

The house as a realistic example is "open-source" for everyone (solving climate change is the priority), everything is non-commercial. Our aim was also to find the harmony between nature and technology. We prepare the further project which includes the revitalization of wineyards (environmental/cultural heritage) in connection with building a complex sustainable development community cooperating in addition in building renewable energy (local resources as solar, water, waste wood) off-grid systems with its own storage batteries, local food farming & barter, local cooperation, environmental/human ecology education (the houseowner 64- year-old Ms. Ing. Jana Balážová, PhD. has the long-term experience), consultancy etc.

Is an evaluation report or any relevant independent evaluation source available?

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that the proposed project has not been proposed for the Awards more than once under the same category and that it has not been subject to any type of investigation, which could lead to a financial correction because of irregularities or fraud.