Eco house building

[Le_Jars]

I have an idea, and it is just an idea at the moment, that I'd like to build an eco-friendly, self sufficient house here in SW France. Does anyone know of any homes that have been built from unusual materials or to unusual designs in France? I have a friend who has built a straw bale house, but the design of it is very similar to existing 'normal' houses (ie it's a box). I'm trying to find a home that's been built legally from accepted plans and designs that have obviously been passed by the mairie of their village/town.

I like these....http://www.earthship.co.uk/france/earthship-defined.htm

There are plenty of buildings like this in the US and elsewhere, but finding info on radical buildings like these in France is another matter. Unless, of course, any of you know different?

Any links or info gratefully received!

[cooperlola]

Have you seen this mag, Le_Jars?

http://www.la-maison-ecologique.com/index.php

[Le_Jars]

I haven't seen that, no. Many thanks. I'm off to the tabac to see if it's there!

[Albert the InfoGipsy]

And if you can get a copy of "Maisons écologiques d'aujourd'hui" ISBN 2-904082-99-9 you'll find descriptions of about 30 houses using all kinds of materials and ranging from the apparently conventional to a revolving dome.

It's from les éditions terre vivante: http://www.terrevivante.org/

There is also the UK-based Green Building Forum:

http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/

[Le_Jars]

I bought the mag, thanks Cooperola. Very good for my french too.

Albert, many thanks for those links  :)