Family Lives in the Arctic Circle by Building Cob House in a Solar Geodesic Dome

People make a difference between the terms house and home. So, the term house refers to a structure that provides refuge, whereas a home is a place where you grow up, live and love.

And there is the Hjertefølger family that sets a perfect example of what a home is. This Norwegian’s family cob house stands for an amazing and safe haven placed in the inhospitable Arctic climate. This is a place where they live, love and grow. They also enjoy the benefit of being able to grow their own organic food.

The Arctic Circle is associated with images of extreme weather conditions. That’s why it is amazing that this Norwegian family succeeded to create such a cozy oasis here. Their journey towards reaching a cozy and sustainable lifestyle began in the early 2010s, on Norway’s Sandhornøya island.

They were motivated by their wish to create a place where they could live, breathe and be close to nature. And the only way to do so, was to build a house inside a greenhouse. And so, by 2013 they build a three-story cob home. To build it, they used sand, water, clay and other organic materials. They managed to make it become a pleasing and functional, solar geodesic dome.

The features of the family cob

This 25 ft. tall dome consists of five bedrooms and two bathrooms. There are six people living there and it offers them protection from the strong winds and heavy loads, as well as heating costs. There is a garden area that provides the family with the necessary greenhouse environment.

So they are able to grow apples, cherries, plums, apricots, kiwis, grapes, cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs, squash and melons are just some of the crops they can grow in their area.

Opposite of the Arctic Circle’s cold climate, the cozy, rustic interior creates a welcoming environment. And there’s the amazing views of nature and the Northern Lights that add to the unique environment.

The owners say that after three years living in the house they feel pleased to have built it. They say that the atmosphere is unique, its calmness and stillness can be felt and heard as well.

Sources:

Image Source: Ingrid Hjertefølger
awesomeinventions.com
treehugger.com