We started here, with Mike Reynolds pounding the first tire, 3 hours after landing in the country. The ground work layed out; 10sq meters to be under permit size. 17 tires and a load of dirt in the lamas field is what we started with. The land owner Robin Woodsfords donated the field, on his beautiful 10 acres organic vineyard. What we had waiting in the wings was a strong core crew of 5 kiwis and 35 participants from all over ready to jump on board.

This site is North facing on the port hills of Christchurch, with amazing views and sheltered from the the southerly wind. perfect sport for the first Earthshiup community project to begin.

The vault and the tires can at the same time, and at the end of the day both were complate – tires at 5 courses and the rebar vault tied and ready for plaster. So we picked up the vault, in one piece and moved it to sit on top if the tire work!

After the cement bond beam formed by cans to hold the vault to the tires we plastered the vault 4 times. We surrounded the building with a the vapor barrier and rigid insulation and buried it with earth.

Organizing and designing the bottle wall was the next project next, which meant cutting glass bottles and taping end to end to make a brick that lets in light. At the same time, carpentry was under way to get the front face ready  in for the front door and windows.

The roof then got a 2 inch layer of insulation and a vapor barrier and its last inch thick coat of plaster. We also build  a parapet; cans layered up to create a water catchment which will run into the cistern buried in the berm of the building. Inside the tire walls were packed out to a nice shape and plastered.

A huge thanks to: The NZ team (Robin Woodsford, Mike Lilian, Turei, and Lachlan Grey), to to those who participated in the build, Brian our wonderful back how driver and hangi man, companies who donated materials (Fulton Hogan, Texco, Port-a-loos), Michael Reynolds for inspiring and leading our work and Rosa Henderson for organization.

for more info and photos on this build see the facebook page at: www.facebook.com/groups/114248281783/?fref=ts

and for NZ events also see www.earthship.com/new-zealand

Click on this link to stream (including 8 extra minutes of unaired interview)
[It will download a file that will open in a media player app]

Mike arrives in Christchurch on Monday 11 March for a week of workshops and public lectures. The workshop is already a massive sell-out with over 100 applicants so far for the 30 precious spaces available. Mike will be delivering three inspiring talks catering for all levels of interest and covering his Building concept and his work in the area of Disaster Relief.

People across New Zealand and overseas are descending on Christchurch for what will be not just Mike’s talks and workshops, but a gathering of people to give this movement the momentum across the country.

In-progress and future earthship builds across New Zealand have been recently identified, with Mike’s arrival bringing people out of the woodwork.

For further information and to buy tickets for his talks (just a few tickets remain).
http://earthship.com/3-day-practical-workshop-lead-by-micheal-reynolds-from-earthship-biotecture

Full details and the opportunity to buy tickets for the public lectures can be found here and the 3 day workshop here.

Get a taste of the man himself:

Nga mihi,
Rob

Here’s the facts from our friends at SHAC:

• Design a 10m2 building that does not need building consent
• Deadline for entries to SHAC is 20 August 2012 12 noon [not long!]
• Submission is based around 2 x A3 presentation pages [not too much!]
• Conceive of a use for the building that does not require consent
• Submit your design, and an explanation about the building, how it is to be used, and how the building does not require a building consent.
• Explain the project and its purpose, it’s present and potential future uses.
• How it will be constructed
• What maintenance will be required
• How will it be supplied with any electrical power, if needed.
• A preliminary budget
• Best entries will receive awards & prizes
• Exhibition and presentation of awards in Christchurch, at the Festival
 of Transitional
Architecture, Design and Building in Christchurch (Oct 19-27 2012)
• All Earthship related entries will be featured on earthship.co.nz!
• For more details go to: http://micro-architecture.shac.org.nz/wp/2012/03/01/10m2-challenge-2012/

So.. what are you waiting for!?!?  Anyone offering to be part of a design team or needing assistance; just leave a comment below.  Access to Mike Reynolds publications can be made available to anyone requiring them for the competition.  Get creative, think off the page.

Take a moment to view the latest concept from Mike Reynolds, to arise from the Haiti earthquake; Communal facilities in cellular form that allow for easy replication.  The way the community is treated like a living organism is no accident and it takes the theory of Gaia to a new macro-social context.

Learn how to construct safe, durable and comfortable buildings from wooden pallets and other recycled waste materials.

Courses will be run when sufficient numbers have registered.
3/34 Vanguard Street, Nelson (Next to Vertical Limits)

Mark Fielding, director of Solabode Ltd, a Licensed Building Practitioner and eco home designer with over 30 years’ experience will teach you all there is to know, such as sourcing materials, using tools and various construction techniques for building sheds, cabins and even homes from:

• wooden pallets as structure,
• waste polystyrene for insulation,
• old carpet for linings coated with clay paint, and
• old corrugated iron for cladding.

Friday evening will be discussion only from 5pm to 9pm. Saturday 9am to 5pm will be hands on making pre-fab wall panels with Sunday 10am – 5pm hands on construction of a small building. Printed handout notes on all aspects taught will be included. Tea and Coffee provided only. Places limited to 12.

Cost: $165.00 Including GST
Contact Name: Mark Fielding
Contact Email: mark@solabode.co.nz
Phone number: 03 5468760
Website: www.ecotect.co.nz/pozie.html

From a building regs point of view this would be a non-permanent (demonstration) structure, possibly under 10 sqm, for which it may be possible to ask for retrospective building consent.  My first thoughts are that maybe Canterbury University School of Civil Engineering or CPIT might be able to use this as a learning tool, although it doesn’t have to be restricted to Christchurch.  Please spread the word, use your networks and get in touch with us here at Earthship New Zealand  if you have any leads.  We are happy to assist with setting up this opportunity which can only be good for the cause of Earthships in Aotearoa.

But, unlike its flower power forebears, hippies need not apply to the scheme, the brainchild of the New Zealand Clean Energy Centre.

“There is probably a perception that what you are going to end up with is a bunch of hippies, but rather our target will be white collar workers,” said the centre’s CEO, Rob McEwan.

The pool of potential community dwellers would include Kiwis and those from overseas.

“For instance, young, affluent Silicon Valley entrepreneurs are scouting around New Zealand at present looking for land,” Mr McEwan said.

“They are looking to get out of the US, live in a community with good water resources and establish a sustainable and `local’ lifestyle.” New Zealand could “easily” rise to be the No1 choice for them, Mr McEwan said.

“We are politically neutral, almost 80 per cent of our electricity is generated from renewables, we have ample water and we are friendly to Americans.

“So then the question for Taupo becomes how can we lure them to our community?”

A survey is being conducted by the centre to gauge interest in the concept, he said, and it could get off the ground as soon as a suitable developer comes on board.

The communal vegetable gardens and septic tanks will still be there, he said, but so too will be some of the mod cons of our futuristic lifestyles, including wi-fi internet and telephone services.

“This is about attracting people who have disconnected from the world, so to speak, who need only their laptop and smartphone to work and can travel anywhere and still work,” Mr McEwan said.

The development would comprise half-acre sections and the actual houses would be simple designs that resemble any ordinary Waikato development.

The family-style homes would be heated via geothermal or biomass sources, and electricity supplied via solar or wind energy.

Wastewater would be drip irrigated to energy crops that would provide future fuel for the community. Water would be supplied via rainwater collection.

“The large section would allow for things like large garden spaces, which could be private or shared, and septic tanks,” he said.

And how much would a slice of green living go for? “It is an unknown cost at this stage, but part of the vision is providing affordable housing.

“We would be looking at a range of homes, all under $500,000.” Owners would also have to pay about $60,000 for renewable energy technology add-on costs, he said.

Off-grid biosphere concept for Taupo | Stuff.co.nz.