General Discussion

Jenoch

(7,720 posts)

24. While this house is in Wales and I know none of the

Sun Aug 4, 2013, 10:47 PM

Aug 2013

details of the construction with the exception of the description, several years ago a house made of straw bales was built in Minneapolis. It was supposed to be the eco-house of the future. It was cheaper to build, insulated well so the heating and cooling costs would be lower. The only problem was the house started to mildew, mold, and rot from the inside out. It lasted maybe seven years.

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Should this home be demolished? [View all] HarveyDarkey Aug 2013 OP

This architect says "no." NYC_SKP Aug 2013 #1

Christ Man liberalmike27 Aug 2013 #87

This architect says maybe maxsolomon Aug 2013 #104

It's a work of art! Just Saying Aug 2013 #2

Absolutely not. beevul Aug 2013 #3

Let me guess--homeowner didn't get the permits upfront, did they? nt msanthrope Aug 2013 #4

"... Charlie felt he had no choice but to build his house without the approval struggle4progress Aug 2013 #6

You know, the lawyer in me recognizes that without people like Charlie, my profession msanthrope Aug 2013 #9

Legend about a town in the old West: a fellow moved there and put out his shingle to practice law; struggle4progress Aug 2013 #13

You have it right, my fellow DUer! nt msanthrope Aug 2013 #15

Whats wrong with the greenhouse? Junky? Too Big? Jesus Malverde Aug 2013 #22

Well, beyond the fact that the poorly-concealed grow operation attracts all sort of miscreants msanthrope Aug 2013 #25

makes sense...thanks..nt Jesus Malverde Aug 2013 #27

You might need a lawyer. westerebus Aug 2013 #31

Funny.....nt msanthrope Aug 2013 #32

A truly sustainable greenhouse would not have run-off water to annoy the neighbors. JDPriestly Aug 2013 #36

These are teabaggers on the dole who are making a little side msanthrope Aug 2013 #57

It's a cool house, but rules are there for a reason n2doc Aug 2013 #64

Have you considered entering into an mutual use of drainage pipe? My former 1monster Aug 2013 #90

Call me crazy, but I have no interest in putting money into my neighbor's illegal pot grow. nt msanthrope Aug 2013 #95

Not to solve his problems, but yours... 1monster Aug 2013 #96

I wish I had the space---this is backalley Philly. nt msanthrope Aug 2013 #97

As always, living up to your username. Egalitarian Thug Aug 2013 #8

�C'est la nature humaine de penser sagement et d'agir b�tement." msanthrope Aug 2013 #11

Apparently the old adage... Bay Boy Aug 2013 #105

C'est vrai. nt msanthrope Aug 2013 #107

As a kid walking to school once we were playing in a home like this and... Skink Aug 2013 #5

I think it's beautiful. newcriminal Aug 2013 #7

"harmful to the rural character of the locality" WTF??? hobbit709 Aug 2013 #10

The region is agricultural, with traditional stone country houses. I'm guessing the locals like that struggle4progress Aug 2013 #19

I'd say that house looks closer to traditional than those stone houses hobbit709 Aug 2013 #20

Try touring the area near Glandwr, Wales, with a tool like GoogleEarth struggle4progress Aug 2013 #21

Yeah, I guess you would be first in line to bulldoze it down. Shaking your finger at him for not rhett o rick Aug 2013 #37

I'm not a Libertarian. Local planning and local zoning laws are what keep regions from turning struggle4progress Aug 2013 #39

I am not a libertarian either but I think we can go overboard make people fit the mold. nm rhett o rick Aug 2013 #40

Me too! nt Enthusiast Aug 2013 #53

"not consistent with the regional ambience" bvar22 Aug 2013 #89

The richest or most aggressively nosy/busybody neighbors, generally. (nt) Posteritatis Aug 2013 #91

I simply could NOT live anywhere there is a HOA or Condo Board, bvar22 Aug 2013 #92

+1000. nt awoke_in_2003 Aug 2013 #100

Is it safe? Was it inspected as the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC were installed? X_Digger Aug 2013 #12

Cobb homes have been standing in Britain for hundreds of years. Egalitarian Thug Aug 2013 #68

So there could be hidden junction points buried in a wall, or an unglued drain line leaking waste.. X_Digger Aug 2013 #71

No ceonupe Aug 2013 #79

It's funny.. when the explosion at West, TX occurred.. X_Digger Aug 2013 #80

It's the liberalmike27 Aug 2013 #88

There is HVAC, two of the pictures clearly show a heater with an A Simple Game Aug 2013 #109

Pretty house, but knock it down anyway. Xithras Aug 2013 #14

All is not well in the Shire Kaleva Aug 2013 #16

... "one ring to empower Home Owner Associations ... " JustABozoOnThisBus Aug 2013 #45

I'd be proud to have that in my neighborhood Skittles Aug 2013 #17

Sad to say... jmowreader Aug 2013 #18

"harmful to the rural character of the community" blackspade Aug 2013 #23

While this house is in Wales and I know none of the Jenoch Aug 2013 #24

I'm surprised that the big bad wolf didn't blow it down sooner. Nye Bevan Aug 2013 #30

From what I read, you have to keep them dry... JHB Aug 2013 #72

There must have been problems Jenoch Aug 2013 #73

No...where else will the Keebler elves live? nt Dreamer Tatum Aug 2013 #26

Damn Hobbits... They move into the neighborhood TlalocW Aug 2013 #28

WOW, I was beaten to that joke by a country mile. AtheistCrusader Aug 2013 #99

Hobbits don't use miles TlalocW Aug 2013 #103

Don't get me started on the dwarves. nt awoke_in_2003 Aug 2013 #101

Libertarians would say "no". Nye Bevan Aug 2013 #29

Authoritarians would say "yes". JoeyT Aug 2013 #33

So, the people who deliberately broke the laws of the pre-Civil War south and helped Jamastiene Aug 2013 #48

On reflection, I guess that people who simply build what they want regardless of building codes Nye Bevan Aug 2013 #50

It's fabulous! I want it! Rosa Luxemburg Aug 2013 #34

That's a gorgeous home. Blue_In_AK Aug 2013 #35

Planners? Rex Aug 2013 #38

I'm sorry but that is one dumb ass house... Ohio Joe Aug 2013 #41

goats Major Nikon Aug 2013 #44

When I lived on a UK farm, I mowed the lawn with sheep. MADem Aug 2013 #52

Animals on the roof... Ohio Joe Aug 2013 #60

That's because you don't live in Wisconson Major Nikon Aug 2013 #62

I have photographs of that, no video HarveyDarkey Aug 2013 #75

seriously? you've never seen or heard of sod roof houses before? cali Aug 2013 #55

I've seen them,,, Ohio Joe Aug 2013 #59

A couple of Goats formercia Aug 2013 #113

NO, that house is super COOL! nt Raine Aug 2013 #42

No Boudica the Lyoness Aug 2013 #43

Beautiful house Shankapotomus Aug 2013 #46

Nope. Jamastiene Aug 2013 #47

How does he mow his roof? Weed wacker? B Calm Aug 2013 #49

he does not mow it. sod roofs aren't generally mowed. cali Aug 2013 #61

That's an enchanting little house. Sheldon Cooper Aug 2013 #51

Enchanting is the word.....nt Enthusiast Aug 2013 #54

It's beautiful. I wish there was a place in this country where I was free to build what I want. tridim Aug 2013 #56

there are lots of places. cali Aug 2013 #65

Great link, Cali, muchos gracias. toby jo Aug 2013 #114

I toyed with the idea... awoke_in_2003 Aug 2013 #102

Wish I could afford land, but it's just not in the cards. tridim Aug 2013 #111

$2k an acre where I am looking... awoke_in_2003 Aug 2013 #112

We live in a BIG No Permits/No Codes/No Inspections area. bvar22 Aug 2013 #110

sometimes codes protect dembotoz Aug 2013 #58

Oh hell no JustAnotherGen Aug 2013 #63

I'd be prone to agree. Chan790 Aug 2013 #66

Can't they just say it's a prop from Fawke Em Aug 2013 #67

Hah...in my rural pipi_k Aug 2013 #69

Only in America marions ghost Aug 2013 #70

The house is in Wales. nt bunnies Aug 2013 #76

Thanks marions ghost Aug 2013 #82

Actually, that is not in America, it is in the UK. GreenStormCloud Aug 2013 #77

Thanks marions ghost Aug 2013 #81

It's rural enough, anyway. LWolf Aug 2013 #74

Hell no. bunnies Aug 2013 #78

Not just No but HELL NO! KamaAina Aug 2013 #83

Looks pretty rural to me liberal N proud Aug 2013 #84

No--this house looks like it was designed to be efficient and it blends in to its surroundings AndyA Aug 2013 #85

I think this house is closer to the original "rural" nature... malthaussen Aug 2013 #86

Except for the porch with no rails around it for safetly, 4_TN_TITANS Aug 2013 #93

It's a work of art done with love. proReality Aug 2013 #94

if you don't get rid of those hobbits early and fast, you'll never get them gone. AtheistCrusader Aug 2013 #98

And next thing you know, Wizards and Nazgul visiting at all hours of the night. Liberal Veteran Aug 2013 #106

I like the fact that this type of housing doesn't create so much mortgage debt.... I understand that midnight Aug 2013 #108