'touching the earth lightly and living in harmony with the olive trees that surround it'
I wanted to build my own cabin, I yearned for rustic simplicity, living life in a climate that would feed my soul,
I wanted to eliminate the longing for more and replacing it with less. To live amongst nature and its sounds.
I would decide on the island of Crete for my project, a beautiful island, full of history, full of beauty and full of the Greek people that would make life so wonderful in the way they welcomed me, a stranger, into their life.
My Project would be called The Olive Shed.
A simple yet unique dwelling that would sit among 30 olive trees that make up the plot.
Completely constructed by hand, the project taking 11 months to complete over a period of 4 years.
The plot sits high above 1000's of olive and orange trees as far as the eye can see on all four sides.
The white mountains to the front of the build and the sea to the back.
To keep the costs low the design was a simple floor plan which consisted of two cubes that each total 25 sq mts, combined total 50 m2 positioned side by side in an L-shape as to save two existing olive tree from being cut down.
With no carpentry experience I would learn as I go along, both by mistakes and by watching so many
You Tube films from cabin builders from around the world.
The Olive Shed is intentionally painted in subdued concrete paint in part , allowing it to recede into
the olive grove and merge with the beauty of the landscape.
The plan places the open living/dining/kitchen area in one cube, with a sunbathing viewing area above this cube.
The walk through from the living room area passes through an
small L-Shaped opening that houses the off-grid power set up and then leads to the bedroom and attached bathroom.
Over time, like Jim Olsens project (see World Projects) the Olive Shed will increase in size in years to
come by adding further cubes to extend its size and uses.
The Olive Shed would become my hideaway where I can recharge my spirits and reconnect with myself, away from the restraints of society and the stress of an everyday over crowded world...
The Olive Shed frees me from the distracting and unessential, and offers me to get back in touch with nature and reclaim my own inner peace that has always been an essential part of my life since a child..... |
The outside double bed lounging area is placed on the decking that surrounds the Olive Shed.
Roof lounging has views of the surrounding olive-orange groves on all four sides with the sea visible
over the tops of the olive trees in the distance.
Eco friendly build, water brought in and from irrigation supply, power from the sun,
outdoor and indoor water shower and a self composting toilet.
Rain water collection tank and all grey water re-used to water the planned herb and vegetable garden.
Living the Dream...getting back to basics...living with nature
Le Corbusier, the concrete-loving designer designed and built himself Le Cabanon,
a simple yet well designed 14 square-metre wooden house on the south coast of France.
a simple yet well designed 14 square-metre wooden house on the south coast of France.