Earthships: An Example of Harmonious Architecture

Earthships: An Example of Harmonious Architecture
Earthship community and village in New Mexico.Traveller70/Shutterstock
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Earthships look like homes from another planet. They peer out of the ground with an organic quality that is warm and exciting. These unique and surprising buildings share the character of the people who build them. They exemplify sustainable architecture that grounds humanity in its natural environment by using recycled materials, directional building, and water in creative and harmonious ways. All of this, made out of “garbage” that can be abundantly found on all continents on Earth.
It all begins with how the home is situated. Earthships are designed to align to the cycles of day and night, season by season. This is done by having an angled bank of windows facing south at the front of the home and an earth berm at the back wall. This berm is lined with tires packed tightly with dirt.
Andrea Parker
Andrea Parker
Author
Andrea Parker has a master of education in humane education with over 13 years of teaching experience. She met friends in the Santa Cruz Mountains who built their own version of an earthship for under $10,000. Visiting their home inspired her vision of what she wants to create in this world.
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