OWNER BUILDER PROJECT, ATHENS, GEAORGIA
The build outside of Athens, GA, USA was an excellent example of the type of knowledge transfer ECOHAB strives towards. The owner worked as a volunteer for three months learning skills and theory. They then went back home and, a few years later, broke ground on a solo build. For five years they built a four room house in their free time. ECOHAB did only one phone consult during that period. Recently the owner contacted ECOHAB and was ready for a push to finish the roof and greenhouse. We made some custom design sketches and then went and worked with the family to get their labor of love enclosed and thermally functional. We shared our information and techniques while onsite to enable the family to move into the finishing phase of construction. We left the project inspired by the empowerment created with the successful transfer of knowledge.
We framed out the green house on the existing south facing facade. Elliot had worked for the past five years building the outer shell. He built four roof vaults on top of tyre retaining walls. The berm at the back of the house had been filled with soil and the vaulted roof infilled also. This created a large amount of thermal mass to keep the interior climate temperate once the building was enclosed.
We had a small group of volunteer students and Elliots family helping for the month in an effort to get the building fully enclosed.
Insulation was installed over the framing
Followed by plywood and roofing paper
The roof was finally covered with aluminium roofing sheets. This material is great to collect rain water with. The same colour metal sheeting was then used to clad the front of the building. Large south facing windows help with the thermal heating and cooling of the building.
We built a rainwater collection system on the north side of the building. Metal gutters were made to direct the rainwater from the roof into the cisterns buried in the berm.
Concrete slabs were poured over the earth infilled vaults at a slope to direct the rainwater towards the gutters. A can wall parapet was also constructed to help with rainwater collection. Using cans in the walls means less mortar is used and perceived rubbish can be buried in the structure rather than ending up in land fill.
The team working on the north side of the roof.
This project was a labour of love helping an ex student get his building enclosed after many years of hard labour on his own. It was amazing for us to witness the transfer of knowledge and what can be done with a little bit of knowledge and a lot of passion.
“Phil creates an atmosphere on the job site that is unique from any other experience. He is able to bring people together from a diverse background of cultures, ages and skill levels to produce something so special and positive that it is genuinely hard to put into words. I have had the privilege of working with Phil as a volunteer in Taos and also on my own build. He is a master of his craft and a global leader in sustainable construction. While many people only understand certain principles in theory, Phil has spent decades actually doing the work and perfecting his methods. I have seen people from all over the world come together in Taos to learn from Phil, and when I hired him to help me with my own project, I witnessed people willing to drive for miles, sleep in their vehicle and work for free just to have the opportunity to work with Phil again. Everyone on Phil’s job site feels valued, and his leadership instills confidence in people who may have no prior construction experience. Safety is always the top priority, and the mission always gets accomplished. His portfolio of work speaks for itself when it comes to his construction and design expertise; his technical skills are unmatched. For my project, I took what I learned from Phil while in Taos and adapted the concept to the needs of my family and our climate. In lieu of plans or drawings specific to my build, Phil was able to look at my existing progress and understand my vision to help design an architecturally sound way forward. Thanks to Phil’s leadership and dedication of working six days a week rain or shine, our team was able to accomplish the goal of getting the building enclosed. Phil has repeatedly demonstrated leadership, character, craftsmanship and dependability throughout my interactions with him. Perhaps most importantly, Phil is someone who cares deeply about other people on a personal level and for humanity globally across generations.”
Respectfully,
Elliot Rickett