The House Survey
My Vision
- To create a housing permaculture design
- To live more sustainable
- To create a house that requires fewer inputs of time, money and effort in terms of ongoing maintenance.
- To more easily work and entertain in my home
- To have a more energy-efficient or “greener” home
- To have a home that cover my needs with reduced operating costs (shelter, energy, water,...)
- To have a save space for me and my family
- To feel home
Observations
Backgraund
From the remains of garbage and other objects I can see that the last family that has lived in here was in 1982, and then after was used as a sheep shelter.
In 1995 it was semi inhabited for the last time, for a young man who was working during the summer season near by. |
During this time abandoned has been used as a shelter for hunters and have hosted numerous raves parties, which the two have caused some damage.
Site Map
I made some maps, they are very simple but useful when analyzing the sector and to show my ideas more visually.
The two maps are to scale, on the left we can see the house exterior including the adjoining rooms, and on the right the inside of the first floor, one of the house areas where much of the activity takes place every day.
These maps represent the initial state in which we find it without having miss any modification.
Inside the first floor we can see at the top the main entrance door next to the stairs rising to the second floor, and at the other side of the room at the left is the fireplace with the smoke exit, and on the right a sink that drives the water to the outside.
The two maps are to scale, on the left we can see the house exterior including the adjoining rooms, and on the right the inside of the first floor, one of the house areas where much of the activity takes place every day.
These maps represent the initial state in which we find it without having miss any modification.
Inside the first floor we can see at the top the main entrance door next to the stairs rising to the second floor, and at the other side of the room at the left is the fireplace with the smoke exit, and on the right a sink that drives the water to the outside.
Sketches
These are the sketches I used to measure the site, where I show the interior and exterior dimensions and measures of the house, this way you can see more detailed the proportions of the site.
Structures
The inside house walls of fifty centimeter thick at the base appear solid, but the exterior wall had been deteriorated from the big storms, where the stones have been exposed from the inside structure.
At the annexes rooms don't have any kind of plaster that attach the stones to them, so are some stones that had fallen off the wall. Also the roof is 30% missing.
BeamsThere are some damaged beams that need support struts, during the last years woodworm, fire and leaks have punished them beside other parts of the roof structure.
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Leaks
Systems
Safety
All the neighbors we had talked with had said the same, you will be robed and you have to be prepared because..., you know that you have a family...
I've never been afraid of being mugged but after talking with them and without asking, all of they warn me of the same. Some say that I have to do a fortress with small windows and large bars, have always the phone ready and things like this..., everyone says it's a matter of time but it will happen. |
The front door is not very safe only made whith wood and has been broken many times before, but some of the windows have metal bars making it nearly impossible to break.
Heat
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Water
The house does not have water system or similar.
There are one 500 liters water tank at ten meters of the house, and another one at fifty meters approx. About one hundred twenty-five meters have a groundwater well. EnergyThere is no energy system (electricity, gas ..).
Due to the thickness of its stone walls the thermal mass keep the temperature moderate. The little light that goes inside the house passes through the door and small windows. |
House Needs to become a Home
This mind map represents the basic needs that we want to cover to feel that space is our home sweet home.
None of these needs are covered and we have to think how to meet them in the most sustainable way and with minimal economic cost.
None of these needs are covered and we have to think how to meet them in the most sustainable way and with minimal economic cost.
Boundaries
This project is definitely pushing my boundaries. I've done restoration works in the past but now I'm talking about an entire house. Thinking that we have a small child on our hands is like having a countdown to do the place as more kid proof as possible. In the early days has been a big job picking up and separating materials as ruins, irons, broken glass ... for recycling or reuse.
Now we have to find out what will be the best way to put this house ready for inhabit. The first few months are going to be the hardest as we will be living without running water, electricity, internet, ... basic things that makes more complicated the day to day.
Sometimes I think it is too ambitious job for two people, risking and playing on the edge of our possibilities.
Currently we have some savings but with the big first expenses as buy a van, petrol, basic materials, ... I do not think our budget will last long. Lack of money can make that the whole process is more challenging and slow, and until I find a job or a regular economic input I don't know when we can invest even for gasoline to go to buy our food and supplies.
In Albinyana is 75% of unemployment and because we just have arrived to live in Spain we don't have a developed network, so we do know when can be the next economic entrance and we feel that it's a big risk jumping in the pool. Anyway we have thought to go ahead and give a chance.
Now we have to find out what will be the best way to put this house ready for inhabit. The first few months are going to be the hardest as we will be living without running water, electricity, internet, ... basic things that makes more complicated the day to day.
Sometimes I think it is too ambitious job for two people, risking and playing on the edge of our possibilities.
Currently we have some savings but with the big first expenses as buy a van, petrol, basic materials, ... I do not think our budget will last long. Lack of money can make that the whole process is more challenging and slow, and until I find a job or a regular economic input I don't know when we can invest even for gasoline to go to buy our food and supplies.
In Albinyana is 75% of unemployment and because we just have arrived to live in Spain we don't have a developed network, so we do know when can be the next economic entrance and we feel that it's a big risk jumping in the pool. Anyway we have thought to go ahead and give a chance.
Resources
In the Land we have only one structure our biggest resource to shelter our family, and also is great that we don't have a need to pay for rent. As well there are 2 water tanks near the house, and a groundwater well.
I have had 2000 euros saves at the starting of the project, and after few month it has reduced to almost nothing.
I have mostly expended in buying the new resources that we have, as a van that costed me 700 euros, a gas generator 200 more, and some tools to work at the house and the garden.
Be near to the family and friends is a big resource, after been seven years travelling around the world is nice have the opportunity to joy the spiritual, mental and physical support from the people that knows you deeply.
Before my last trips I had left many things at my mother house, she led me store them for the return of my travels. Since childhood I did a lot of camping in the Catalonian mountains, and I still have some objects that are helping us get started as:
Family and friends donated us different things as:
Neighbors are always up to give a hand.
In a few month we have made a group of local friends that share our way of life and all of them do organic agriculture.
Our closes neighbor have running a four years old permaculture project.
Also the cuantity and cuality of thinks that you can recicle at the city are amazing, before to go Vendrell already we have found:
Internet is other grate value resource when shopping for vans, water pumps, generators, solar..., and it´s the most effective way to see the second hand opportunities around the area.
At the land surroundings are plenty of building materials, the soil is high of clay, and in front of the house is a big sand and gravel pile, that was purchased to make plasters outside the house during the last time that it was inhabited.
There is also an abundance of timber and fire wood at the forest around.
I have had 2000 euros saves at the starting of the project, and after few month it has reduced to almost nothing.
I have mostly expended in buying the new resources that we have, as a van that costed me 700 euros, a gas generator 200 more, and some tools to work at the house and the garden.
Be near to the family and friends is a big resource, after been seven years travelling around the world is nice have the opportunity to joy the spiritual, mental and physical support from the people that knows you deeply.
Before my last trips I had left many things at my mother house, she led me store them for the return of my travels. Since childhood I did a lot of camping in the Catalonian mountains, and I still have some objects that are helping us get started as:
- Gas lamps
- Sleeping bags
- Flashlights
Family and friends donated us different things as:
- Cooking pots
- Kitchen tools (Plates,glases, forks, ...)
- Blankets and bedding
- Garden tools
Neighbors are always up to give a hand.
In a few month we have made a group of local friends that share our way of life and all of them do organic agriculture.
Our closes neighbor have running a four years old permaculture project.
Also the cuantity and cuality of thinks that you can recicle at the city are amazing, before to go Vendrell already we have found:
- Gas citchen
- Sofa bed
- Candels
- Table
- Chears
- Tools
Internet is other grate value resource when shopping for vans, water pumps, generators, solar..., and it´s the most effective way to see the second hand opportunities around the area.
At the land surroundings are plenty of building materials, the soil is high of clay, and in front of the house is a big sand and gravel pile, that was purchased to make plasters outside the house during the last time that it was inhabited.
There is also an abundance of timber and fire wood at the forest around.
OpportunitiesHalf of the house have a clay tiles ceiling with which I can take the opportunity to use to collect rainwater.
From the existing chimney leaves a hole to vent the fire smoke to the outside, this can be used for another more effective heat system. During the cleanup of the house we found lots of different tools, objects and materials that can be used in the future. |
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Goals
Short term goals |
Long term goals |
-Eco-restoration |
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