This is a test run of what might, or might not, be regular postings on the topics of Living Architecture, Sheltermaking and ecoLiving.
It seems that the times we are now living in are increasingly demanding what were formerly referred to as ‘alternatives’ – a slightly disparaging 70’s era blanket expression that described types of people, types of houses, types of food, etc. – be recategorised and heretofore be referred to in terms of ‘sustainability’ or degrees of ‘greeness’.
I have been an alternative since the 70’s, though that dated term has now been superseded, when referring to people like me, by the mildly disparaging term ‘Tree Hugger’.
I currently live in a handmade, earth sheltered, mortgage-free, off-grid eco-house, grow and store food for my own consumption, use a bicycle for getting around, use buses and trains for longer journeys, keep warm by burning wood and turf, make minimal use of fossil fuels (for generator; chain saw and whipper snipper – all used infrequently), scrupulously recycle, shop locally, avoid synthetic clothing, toxic chemicals, TV, processed food as well as social and mainstream media.
I am a fully qualified and true blue Tree Hugger.
So, where does that leave me in a world that increasingly seems to distance itself from genuine alternatives and instead pursues dubious ‘green’ technology?
Out on a limb basically!
No bad thing in itself but frustrating at the same time.
The view from the limb hints at what may be missing – any acknowledgement of the ‘invisibles’ that essentially power life.
In respect of buildings I refer to these as their ‘invisible architecture’ – aspects of buildings that we cannot see but which nonetheless affect us deeply much like our own invisible parts do – our psyches, dreams, emotions, aspirations and so on.
Without meaningful acknowledgment and engagement with such invisibles we are encouraged to adapt an essentially material worldview which, for many people, is unsatisfying.
I believe that once people surrendered the ability to build their own homes an innate facility for experiencing the effect of such invisibles was lost resulting in this material worldview predominating how we interpret and engage with life.
This website offers practical and innovative ways of reconnecting with our ‘sheltermaking’ instincts as a means to engage with both the material as well as the immaterial aspects of life..