Simon Dale isn’t your ordinary father and this is no ordinary home. After he decided paying a mortgage and incurring debt wasn’t the greatest thing, he moved his family to the Wales countryside. Armed with a hammer, chainsaw, and a chisel, and with no prior building experience, he set to work constructing a home for his family that Bilbo Baggins himself would envy.

He began with some rough sketches to flesh out the idea…

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While his wife and two children camped out nearby, he began framing the exterior using felled timber from the forest. The process took him four months.

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If you can believe it, he had zero prior experience in carpentry and architecture! Regardless, he learned how to timber frame and use strawbale techniques just fine.

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Giving his son a lesson on structural safety…

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“Being your own have-a-go architect is a lot of fun and allows you to create and enjoy something which is part of yourself and the land rather than, at worst, a mass-produced box designed for maximum profit and the convenience of the construction industry.”

5312502c1629c285d8f8ccba17e1cba5_imageHe used lime plaster on the walls as an alternative to cement and other potentially carcinogenic materials.

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The interior is simply stunning, with a magical aura penetrating every corner.

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A living roof of grass and moss covers the roof.

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The home blends right into the hillside, becoming a natural part of its surroundings.

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Unfortunately the local government pushed the family out of this home, citing a lack of proper permits as the reason. However, since building the home in 2003 the family has since moved into a new home, but Simon continues to work on other similar projects, both for his family and others. This hobbit house remains intact and serves as inspiration for others, along with a place for You can see more of his work on his website, http://simondale.net