Earthbag Tent-Castle by Duncan Doon at Coroflot.com

Earthbag Tent-Castle

Bringing a dream to reality.
An innovative project - building a hybrid earthbag home / tent / castle.
Designed and built myself with labour assistance and sounding board advice from friends and family.
No vehicle access onto the property so only limited materials could be brought down.
The sloped terrain meant that the foundations had to be dug which would provide earth to fill the earth bags.
The work was completed over approximately 10 full days (spread over weeks).
The earthbag wall served as a retaining wall for the subterranean part of the building.
Extreme care had to be taken with measurements as the tent needed to fit neatly over the wall.
A drawbridge and decorative facade was created for entrance to the castle using second hand wood and corrugated iron.

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Ground is measured out and digging starts!

Foundations dug, flattened and tamped down. Perforated piping laid down around outer rim to channel water to lower ground, avoiding damp in wall and under floor.

First circle of earth bags laid! Plastic used to line the retaining wall.

Packing and moving earth bags is strenuous work

Rewarding breakfast on the wood burner stove

Getting the heals in to pack the earth firmly

Door entry needed to be carefully measured as would need to fit timbers for door frame. We found that folding the earth bags proved to be a simple way to end off the wall, instead of using half bags.

Using a plank and rubber hammer to flat the door entry.

First phase of the wall complete. Next step to test how the tent fitted!

Erecting the entrance framework, using wood from the property.

Cutting the drawbridge from a salvaged solid wood door.

Feeling secure with the door in place.

Facade clad with wood offcuts and corrugated iron. Tent fitted tightly on the wall, with the centre pole raise on a log to account for extra height. Stella guards against invading possums.

A dramatic closing of the drawbridge after packing up the castle.

View over the 'kitchen'. You can see the stakes that hold the guy ropes taught and avoided the need for extremely lengthy guy ropes to achieve optimal tension angle.