Hey there, welcome to my channel, where we explore unique homes and showcase stories of alternative living. In today’s video, we’re traveling all the way to Norway to take a tour of one family’s Cob home, nestled inside a unique dome-shaped greenhouse. And we’re gonna meet the family who designed and built this home themselves using only reclaimed and natural materials.
I’m pretty sure this home is gonna make you rethink everything you thought a home could be. Imagine a house that grows its own food and recycles its water! Stick around for the tour, and don’t forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell so you never miss a unique home adventure! Hi, welcome to our nature house. Come inside!
We have four children, aged seventeen, fifteen, twelve, and six. And we also have a little zoo – four furry friends, two dogs and two cats. Where the house is located, right on the beach, offers a stunning view and lets us just run down for a swim. We love it! Especially in the summer, there’s nothing better than starting the day with a quick dip in the ocean. We moved in here nine years ago, after we designed and built it ourselves.
Renting a regular house just wasn’t cutting it anymore. We craved a home that reflected our love for the environment and fresh food. So, we decided to build our own nature house – a place where we could live organically and grow our own groceries right on the property!
“We didn’t have any prior construction experience, but that wasn’t going to stop us! I took a few days to learn cob building at a workshop in Denmark. It’s a fascinating process – by hand, you mix sand, clay, and straw together. Imagine stomping in a giant mud puddle, like making clay bread with your feet! This amazing mixture creates a natural building material that’s kind of like working with big, soft bricks.”
Building our nature house took a year and a half, with the total cost coming in at just over three million Norwegian Kroner. The dome itself was about a million Kroner, making it the biggest investment. But that investment pays off big time – it shields the cob house from the elements, essentially creating a self-protective outer layer that eliminates exterior maintenance for us!
“By the way, one thing that might surprise you – it’s actually a dry greenhouse in here! People often assume it would be super humid, but vents on the top of the dome keep the air fresh and comfortable.”
“Want to know how we keep things cool in the summer? We have a clever trick up our sleeve! Beneath the ground, we’ve buried these special pipes – two of them, stretching 45 meters long and reaching depths of two to three meters.”
Winter Wonderland: And when the tables turn, and it’s cold outside, the magic continues! Those same underground pipes become our secret weapon again. Because the earth retains warmth longer than the air, we can use it to our advantage. The pipes cleverly draw in this slightly warmer ground temperature, heating the dome naturally.
Nature’s Bounty: Speaking of warmth, take a look at these incredible trees! The rich, nutrient-dense environment we’ve created here fuels their growth. Especially in spring, it’s like watching an explosion of life – the branches practically reach for the sky!
This nature house definitely keeps us busy! We spend a lot of time gardening, and let me tell you, those grapes are like super-growers! They seem to shoot up a meter a week, at least. That means constant pruning all summer long. But hey, the reward is totally worth it! Right now, we’re harvesting apples, plums, and even cherries – fresh fruit straight from our own greenhouse!
Harvest Hustle: Like nature itself, our lives here follow a seasonal rhythm. When fruits ripen, it’s all hands on deck for harvest! We put everything else aside to bring in the bounty – fresh apples, plums, and cherries straight from our greenhouse trees.
Winter’s Rest: But then, winter descends. Living north of the Arctic Circle means no sunlight for three months. That’s our built-in rest period – a time to cozy up and enjoy the fruits (pun intended!) of our labor. So, come on in and let’s take a look around our nature house starting with this hall…
Eco-Friendly Oasis: Now, check out this bathroom! We’ve embraced resourcefulness here – the floor tiles are a beautiful mosaic of leftovers collected from various homes. And those smooth stones? They came straight from the beach! But the most surprising thing might be the scent. Yes, you heard right – people often comment on how pleasant this bathroom smells! We think it’s the combination of the moisture-absorbing cob walls (which might explain the earthy scent) and the Tadelakt – a waterproof, breathable lime plaster – used on the wet areas.
Shower & Downstairs: Speaking of clean spaces, let’s check out the shower! Then, we’ll head downstairs to see where the magic happens – the water recycling system that keeps this whole nature house thriving.
Living Room Comfort: Back upstairs in the living area, take a look at these impressive walls. They’re not just cob – a natural mixture of clay, sand, and straw – but super thick and massive. Living inside a greenhouse has its perks, but it can also get toasty in the summer. These thick walls act like a natural thermostat, soaking up the night’s coolness and releasing it during the day. In the winter, they do the reverse, trapping the heat to keep things cozy. Pretty smart, huh?
Yoga with a View: Now, this little nook here is the only part that juts out of the dome and isn’t made from cob. It’s a reclaimed wood haven, built from old pallets we collected. And guess what it is? My personal yoga space! Imagine unwinding here after a long day, surrounded by nature and bathed in sunlight – pretty idyllic, wouldn’t you say?
Durable & Sustainable: The flooring here is also cob, just like the walls, treated with a natural linseed oil and beeswax finish. This makes it waterproof – spills are no sweat! Speaking of staying comfortable, our heating system is a marvel of efficiency. We use a water-based system, fueled by the wood stove in the winter and solar collectors in the summer. And on those rare occasions when the sun isn’t shining and the fire’s out, electricity steps in to keep things perfectly cozy.
Family Meals & Upcycled Charm: This warm and inviting space is our dining area. Check out this amazing table – it was handcrafted by my talented husband, Benjamin, from beautiful pieces of driftwood! He’s quite the furniture maker, as you’ll see with most of the pieces around here. Even the charming chandelier hanging above is his creation, using more of that lovely driftwood. Moving into the kitchen, notice how the cabinets and counters perfectly fit the organic shape of the room. Benjamin designed and built them using leftover wood – a testament to his resourcefulness and our commitment to sustainability.
Embrace the Challenge: Can you imagine crafting cabinets and counters for a room with no straight walls or corners? Benjamin definitely rose to the challenge, using leftover wood to create this perfectly functional and beautiful space. It’s no wonder it’s your favorite spot for whipping up delicious meals!
Call to action: Thanks for joining us this week on our nature house tour! We hope you were inspired by our unique home and sustainable lifestyle. If you were, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more adventures in extraordinary homes! See you next time!