Building Principles & Practices
Every Woman Can Build!
We have chosen design & construction methods
that meet several important Building Principles & Practices here at Outland
o As harmonious with and non-disruptive to the land as possible
o Respectful and honoring of plant, animal and rock life
o Accessible in the spectrum of what that means physically— walker, wheelchair, scents, light or sound pollution, chemical or environmental sensitivities, etc.
o Affordable and doable
Can be build at minimal expense by one woman with a little help in one year
o Nontoxic, natural and recycled materials.
Green & environmentally sound, alternative electric & water systems
o Water collection, gray water & composting toilets
o Principles and skills readily learned by women with little experience or expanded on by women with a range of experience. Buildable by women with few skills.
o Relatively quick and easy to construct and maintain
o Fitting to women’s needs and bodies
o Aligned with Simple Living values-- small enough to be simple and large enough to meet our needs
o Beautiful
o Safe, Fun, Inspiring, Expanding, Confidence-building
Design Elements of our 2009 Outlandish Adobe Cabins
Design elements we consider or use for our Outlandish Adobe cabins
o Post & beam frame— fast, inexpensive, sturdy
o Concrete stem on floating footing
o Adobe plaster and “Puddled” / poured adobe between the posts and beams—fast, inexpensive, durable
o Shed metal roof—fast, inexpensive, durable
o Extensive glass doors & windows— to blur distinction between indoors and outdoors, for lightness and airiness, spaciousness & passive solar gain
o Easily maintained— protected adobe, metal roof, metal-clad glass, accessible materials
o Range of physical and financial accessibility features
o Energy-efficient and alternative systems— solar hot water, composting toilets, energy efficient appliances, roof water collection and storage, gray water system, solar or wind generated electricity, composting toilets, etc
Construction Steps & Phases You Can Experience
Floor