Ever dream of getting away from it all? Perhaps you should consider living in—or even building—an Earthship. These off-grid/mostly off-grid dwellings are some of the greenest and most economical buildings in the world, and are made from recycled materials such as glass bottles, old tires, reclaimed wood and plenty of elbow grease. Sound a little too rustic? These 40 incredible images might convince you otherwise.
This is the Phoenix Earthship in Taos, New Mexico. Amazingly, you can even stay here. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture
They can be incredibly whimsical and complex …
The HIVE, which serves as campus housing for Earthship Interns and Academy students. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture
Or something much simpler, like this …
Earthship Haiti exterior. These buildings and systems can be duplicated by locals. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture
These homes can be built anywhere and in any climate.
In the mountains. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture In a plain. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture In the desert. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture
Want a little more space? They can also have multiple stories.
A three-story Earthship. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture
These are real Earthships are all over the world.
Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture
You can have a view like this …
Gorgeous mountain view. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture
Or like this!
Beautiful sunset. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture
These beauties have all the bells and whistles of green buildings, such as renewable power …
Solar panels provide clean, green power. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture
… recycled materials …
Bottles create colorful walls that let light through. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture The walls are strong and don’t have to follow any traditional structure. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture
(Take a closer look at the walls!)
Glass and plastic bottles. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture Grout and bottle caps. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture
… as well as these other green building features, below.
A sustainable building. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture
Another reason to build an Earthship? These homes encourage people to come together.
Working towards a common goal. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture Building a wall out of old tires. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture Laying down the foundation. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture It takes hard work to build an Earthship, but it also looks like a lot of fun. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture
They are built to empower communities, such as this school in Africa.
The Goderich Waldorf School in Sierra Leone. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture
So what does an Earthship look like inside? The possibilities are endless.
Stunning Earthship interior. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture
And they can fit in the “tiny home” movement.
A “tiny home” Earthship with a lofted bed. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture Cozy bedroom. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture Who wouldn’t want to wake up to this? Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture Spiral staircase to the Earthship Towers roof. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture Colorful kitchen. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture Comfy living room. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture A living room in an Earthship in Argentina. Photo Credit: Earthships Biotecture
These homes have plenty of light and can house multiple plants.
Garden in the kitchen. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture A hallway with an indoor garden. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture
This means you can grow your own food, even in the winter.
Greenhouse. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture Food produced in the Earthship Visitors Center. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture
You can shower in rain water, then grow plants and crops with that shower water and thenflush the toilet with the leftover water from the plants.
Banana plant grows in gray water. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture Wash your face with filtered and solar-heated rain water. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture You’d never leave the bathtub with a view like that. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture The water system is practically full circle. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture
These sustainable homes are the brainchild of Earthship Biotecture Founder Mike Reynolds.
“When you start taking responsibility for your own energy-consumption needs you start using less and this is what it will take to allow everyone on the planet to live,” the New Mexico-based architect once said in an interview.
He added, “The more simply you learn how to live the happier you’re going to be and the less stress you’ll have.”
Architect and Earthship guru Mike Reynolds. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture