In 2003 Simon and Jasmine Dale, fed up with having to pay large mortgage payments, decided to pursue their dream of living in a simple shelter that helped them connect to their environment in their native Wales. We've covered the tiny house movement before…but this takes the cake!
The Dales realized that for a modest sum of money, some scraps of wood plus good old fashioned hard work, they could build stunning low-impact homes that were ecologically sound, sustainable and even incredibly beautiful.
They wanted to experience what their ancestors experienced by creating a shelter from raw materials using only themselves as labor. Not only were they able to make an architecturally sound space, but a truly unique home that has become an iconic dwelling in their country.
Their initial home, often compared to a Hobbit House from the J.R.R. Tolkien books, only cost £3,000 (roughly $4,744 by today's standards) and took 4 months to complete. The house is heated by wood burner and solar panel, uses locally sourced wood and lime plaster and the roof is is thatched in grass to blend the house into its surroundings.
In 2009 the Dales decided it was time to to expand their living quarters and also move to their own land, thus they began construction on a project they called "The Undercroft" which comes complete with a skylight, kitchen, bathtub and conservatory.
They look forward to eventually building a third, even larger house for themselves and they have inspired an entire eco-village of tiny houses where neighbors have created similar abodes.
Take a look at some of these incredible photographs of their two truly unique, beautiful houses and keep in mind that neither of them have ever had any professional architectural training!
Please SHARE if you are also amazed by these incredibly results!
The Original Hobbit House
The Dale Family Standing Outside Their Creation
The site as construction begins
Simon Dale constructing the house
Another view of Simon and one of his sons as construction continues
The house foundation comes into place as palettes are laid as sub-floor.
The window are before construction...
...and after.
A view from inside
And at night.
Cozy and low-impact
A view from inside their second house, The Overlea
Please SHARE if you also find these tiny homes to be fascinating!
