I feel that we need more intelligent building systems. I'm looking for a home that lasts 200 years, that you can maintain and remodel easily, and that uses mostly locally available, abundant materials.

Locally available, abundant materials? Great!! I really love the look of those houses, kat, and I was wondering how they'd stand up to the climate up here in the Great White North. Now I see that with a few minor alternations, the same designs could probably be used for houses built of snow, ice, and those great Ontario car-boogers!

Only problem is, they'd melt every spring .....   :-(

Deckman, kat and others ... I love these ideas! Funny I was just thinking last week how the solution to the problems the single life brings for older people would be to pool money and resources, buy some land with some like-minded folk and create a self-sustaining community.
And then this thread showed up! HA!!

Keep it going, folks ... there's hope in these here words!

daylia