Sounds like a cross between a shanty town shack and a mud hut but they’re nothing like that.
Drive out from Taos then over a bridge above a mere trickle that will grow into the mighty Rio Grande. The surrounding high desert of New Mexico is bare and inhospitable like a lunar landscape. Shorlty a series of mounds appear growing out of the desert, like long narrow Neolithic barrows or futuristic underground shelters from an alien environment. Built into the mound, the front of the building is hidden but when the beautifully crafted facade of glass, tile and traditional adobe comes into view, all thoughts of stone-age, shanty towns will be dispelled. This is no transient or makeshift structure, but it does provide shelter from a hostile environment. Built from rubbish and discards they may be but Earthships offer the last word in luxury. It is like stepping through the doors of Dr Who's Tardis police box. Inside is a spacious, well lit, airy dwelling that would not be out of place on the cover of a glossy magazine.
Michael Reynolds, inventor of the Earthship, has the appearance of an old hippy, with long hair and beard, casually dressed in plaid shirt and jeans. Like many of his generation he dreamt of changing the world. When he trained as an architect he was interested in innovative design and conservation. The Earthship is the culmination of his work.
“Normal housing is like if you were in hospital on life support. The minute the support is taken off you're going to die. The minute support is taken away from conventional housing it's unusable. If they have a hurricane or the power goes out the house is unliveable. Earth changes, political factors, oil, economy and so on, make our support systems very insecure, not to mention destructive to the planet.”
Earthships use solar and wind energy stored in batteries for later use. Rain water is collected, filtered and stored in a massive tank which is usually a main feature of the living area rather than hidden away in a loft or cupboard. This is first used for drinking, cooking and washing up. The grey water produced does not run away but is collected and recycled to another storage tank. Then it is used to flush the toilets and irrigate the indoor garden. The outflow from the toilet is filtered and channelled outside to provide irrigation and the waste matter is incinerated in a specially designed solar powered unit. The water never escapes. It is used four times.
Each Earthship available for holiday rental is different. From the long luxury version to the futuristic Nautilus. They fit perfectly into their environment with their tiled floors, traditional adobe finish, thick curved walls and domed or sloping roofs. The multi-coloured recycled wood, the bottles and cans embedded in the adobe, the large surface of glass, the plants and the water tanks contribute to the atmosphere and the design and are integral parts of the life support system.
Michael Reynolds is an enthusiast who has spent thirty years working on this idea. He encourages people to visit, to look inside and see videos and displays explaining the concepts behind Earthships. He wants people to try the earthship experience.
“We can show people first hand how it works and they can judge for themselves. A couple can rent this house for a little more than a hotel. After spending a night in this building, they can ask did they have enough power? Did they have a nice Jacuzzi bath? Did they have refrigeration? People don't believe this is possible.”
Hugh Taylor - Once upon a time I was an accountant, a very bored accountant, who lived for weekends and holidays. To relieve the tedium I started ...
