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Small-scale living at its finest.
October 1st, 2008
I just got back from the Courtenay area where myself and two other women did a rough coat of finishing plaster on small cob and strawbale cottage.
The building itself was lovely and an excellent example of small scale living arrangements designed in a very thoughtful way. The cottage has a lower floor built from stone and cob and is just over 100 square feet. The structure was built with round posts and beams and counters and granite shelving and benches were beautifully sculpted into the cob walls, maximizing the use of space in such a small area.
The second floor is the exciting part. The structure cantilevers several feet over the first floor walls to create a spacious sleeping area. The second floor walls were constructed of lighter wood and recycled windows. The north wall is built entirely of straw bales, providing excellent insulation.
The owner built in a wood stove, counters and even a cooling cupboard. screened to outside to bring cool outside air into her pantry. The floor was built up with large pieces of slate. The cottage was built with materials from the property, waste from local building sites and recycled materials from the ReStore.
The cottage is an excellent example of small living areas at its finest. It is wonderful to see every detail thought out in every corner of a building, providing something simple and beautiful to look at wherever the eye travels. The cottage is also proof that a small building, which falls below the square footage requiring building permits, can function as a wonderful living space.