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…
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.
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.
Giving his son a lesson on structural safety…
“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.”
He used lime plaster on the walls as an alternative to cement and other potentially carcinogenic materials.
The interior is simply stunning, with a magical aura penetrating every corner.
A living roof of grass and moss covers the roof.
The home blends right into the hillside, becoming a natural part of its surroundings.
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
