At top is Simon Dale's DIY hobbit house in Wales' "first authorized 'low-impact' ecovillage." The home is their second foray into hobbit living. Several years prior, Simon Dale and his friends and family built the lovely green "Hobbit House" in Wales seen in the photo second from top.

Some key points of the design and construction (of the original hobbit house):

Dug into hillside for low visual impact and shelter

Stone and mud from diggings used for retaining walls, foundations etc.

Frame of oak thinnings (spare wood) from surrounding woodland

Reciprocal roof rafters are structurally and aesthetically fantastic and very easy to do

Straw bales in floor, walls and roof for super-insulation and easy building

Plastic sheet and mud/turf roof for low impact and ease

Lime plaster on walls is breathable and low energy to manufacture (compared to cement)

Reclaimed (scrap) wood for floors and fittings

Anything you could possibly want is in a rubbish pile somewhere (windows, burner, plumbing, wiring…)

Woodburner for heating – renewable and locally plentiful

Flue goes through big stone/plaster lump to retain and slowly release heat

Fridge is cooled by air coming underground through foundations

Skylight in roof lets in natural feeling light

Solar panels for lighting, music and computing

Water by gravity from nearby spring

Compost toilet

Roof water collects in pond for garden etc.