Foundations

Foundations were dug using a TLB.
According to Engineer specification the strips had to be 1 meter wide, reinforced with 10mm re-bar (round) and had to be filled with concrete 250mm thick. The problem with this method is: concrete, re-bar and of cause the TLB are not the most sustainable choices when it comes to building an eco-friendly house. Concrete and the re-bar which is made from steel, constitute a large amount of embodied energy. In other words, the amount of CO2 emissions pumped into the atmosphere during the manufacturing and transportation of these materials makes them rather eco-unfriendly.

A geo-engineer did a number soil tests on the building site and determined sufficient un-stable soil for the structural engineer to specify the re-enforcing of the strip foundations. Also there was not enough natural rock in the surrounding area to use for the foundations. What rock there was in the local area, will be used to built some of the exterior walls.
Also, we decided that if the foundations were not strong enough and they cracked or moved in 10 years time, the project as a whole would be a failure and hardly sustainable!

Our Gazebo - At the Farm

When we run out of material or work on the main house we work on our side project 'The Gazebo'.
The gazebo will be our entertainment area, our conference facility where we can host earth building or other greenie type training/seminars, weddings, parties, drumming, socials, etc.
As you can see, it is constructed with a combination of Cob (mud & straw), & rock sourced from the farm.
Here you can see some of the Insynch guys mixing cob and in the background you can see an earth/clay oven taking shape.

The House Design

The House was designed with massive help from our enduring architect Charlotte Smit (CAES Architects).
Principally the house was designed to be lived in by the family. So there is a space or room for all our (out-of-town) needs such as a gym, a Music/Movie room, Library, Bed rooms, open plan Kitchen 'come' Kids Homework area, Dinning room, safe room, Guest rooms, twins rooms, etc.

Passive Heating & Cooling (Green Design) Principles were implemented as thoroughly as possible, such as:
North Facing, Maximize Northern Solar Exposure in Winter, Minimize Northern Solar Exposure in Summer (overhangs), Minimal windows on East, West and South Sides, Natural Air Flows (reverses in Winter), Isolation Zone at main entrance, all living areas facing North, Sun Free zones, natural Lighting in all rooms, maximum Thermal Mass, Insulated walls, roof and foundations, Living Patterns, natural backup Heating, Solar Water Heating, Rain-Water harvesting, etc.

The design requirements and needs matured over a period of two to three years until finally Charlotte came up with the final look and feel, considering how the spaces fit together as opposed to putting a whole lot of blocks next to each other. We started off with two phi curves on the left and right sides of the house. The phi curves disappeared a little as the rooms became reality, but the house still maintains many natural curves and shapes. Straight Lines were kept to an absolute minimum and only put in were necessary.

We wanted to emphasize the northern views and put the focus on Rhenosterkop in the distance.
So, as you enter the house through the main entrance into the dinning room the view towards Rhenosterkop will be in a straight line over a 12 seater dinning room table and through the double volume windows in the formal lounge.

River Bend Farm - South Side

A view of River Bend Farm from the river side (South).
The Guest House will not be visible from this side of the hill. The house is built on the north side of the hill, over looking the Roodekraans Game Reserve and Rhenosterkop in the distance.
As can be seen from the photo, the farm is surrounded by virtually untouched natural bushveld (Bankenveld), grassland, farm dams, rivers and wildlife.
It is hard to believe this area is just over 20km from Fourways, Pretoria & Midrand, nearby suburbia.

Country Life, literally a stones throw from the city.

Project Overview:
We are building a Cob/Straw Bale & Adobe Guest house in the Rhenosterspruit Nature Conservancy (www.rhenosterspruit.co.za), near Pretoria in South Africa.
My wife Sonia, my children Luke, Liam & Aimee-Louise are all part of the designing and most importantly of all, the building phases of the project.
My construction company 'Insynch Sustainable Technologies Pty (Ltd)' is building the house with us.
The reason why we are creating this blog is:
1. To allow our friends and family to follow our progress.
2. To give insight to other people interested in this building method, on how to build.
3. To educate and spread the word on environmentally friendly building and practices.
4. To dispose of or eradicate certain myths about earth bulding, like does it last, is it strong, or is it feasible/possible.
5. To demonstrate that it can be done along the lines of a modern structure as well as be insynch with nature and how natures looks, feels and operates.