Jim Pritchard
Image courtesy of New Society Publishers.
Like any other construction project, you need a plan for your earthbag house to aid in budgeting and scheduling and to seek permissions, approvals, and direct work on site.
With the many house plans out there, it can be challenging to identify the right one that meets your needs.
An earthbag house plan must be designed by a qualified architect who understands what goes into building a sustainable earthbag home. You can also pick up an earthbag house kit to help speed you on your way and avoid headaches with sourcing the right materials.
An excellent house plan must be adequately detailed and specify the different features accurately. Quirks and faults in your earthbag house plan will most likely cause problems during building and, ultimately, could waste your entire investment.
In this article, I’ll list 11 earthbag house kits and plans you can use for your next project.
The list incorporates off-grid earthbag home plans for those planning for an energy-efficient home. So, let’s get started!
Table of Contents
1. Earthbag Arc House
Designed by Owen Geiger, this earthbag house plan is suitable for off-grid construction. It’s designed with gentle curves to leverage solar energy during the day.
The curved walls capture and store solar energy to stabilize the house’s temperature when it gets cold.
The Earthbag Arc House plan has a 672 square feet interior, one bath, and one bedroom.
It costs $200 for a PDF version and $400 for AutoCAD files.
2. Eco Nest 1200
Designed by architect Touson Saryon, the Eco Nest 1200 earthbag house plan is ideal for an off-grid building.
The floor is designed for easy heating via solar gain. It also accommodates a wood stove for heating at night or when it gets extremely cold.
The house occupies 1,434 square feet, making it an ideal plan for a family.
The plan is sold in 5 Sets of 18″x24″ Prints for $995. You can buy extra prints for $40.
3. Baca Hybrid
This is a plan for a 1,250 square feet earthbag house.
The Baca Hybrid plan features two bedrooms and two hybrid stories.
The kit has a solar greenhouse, a combination of earthbags and straw bales, and a naturally-cooled pantry.
It’s also designed to be energy-efficient and will need less backup heating.
The digital PDF version of this plan costs $100.
4. Earthbag Roundhouse
The Earthbag Roundhouse by Owen Geiger is designed with a south-facing window for excellent solar gain.
It has an 855 square feet interior, one bathroom, and one bedroom.
An excellent fact about building a roundhouse is that they are highly resistant to storms.
The PDF version of this plan costs $200, and the AutoCAD version goes for $400.
5. Barn-Style House
The Barn-Style House is a plan designed by Owen Geiger. It occupies 1,506 square feet (1,260 square feet interior and 246 square feet upper floor).
This design is ideal for family living due to its three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
The unique feature of this design is its elevation which enables access to all floors.
You can get the plan as a PDF for $300 or AutoCAD files for $500.
6. Beachcomber House
This is an ideal kit for large families.
Designed by Owen Geiger, the Beachcomber House plan features spacious bedrooms, a large modern kitchen, and a wood stove.
It occupies 1,352 square feet and has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The plan is the true definition of a modern house due to the presence of a master bedroom with closets, photovoltaic controls, and radiant floor heating.
You can get the PDF version of this plan for $300 and AutoCAD files for $500.
7. Carriage House
This is a design by Kelly Hart. It’s suitable for a garages, shops, and offices.
The plan occupies 900 square feet and is a hybrid design that combines earthbag walls, concrete floors, and wood-framed end walls.
The Carriage House is a two-story design with the first floor designated for storage, a garage, and a shop.
Above this, the second floor is ideal for office space.
The PDF version of this plan goes for $100.
8. Earth-Bermed Natural House
This is an energy-efficient earthbag house plan by Owen Geiger. It features a sleeping loft and an office space with a south-facing window for sufficient solar gain.
The bermed design ensures that the house blends into its environment.
The interior of the Earth-Bermed Natural House plan occupies 287 square feet, while the sleeping loft provides a further 287 square feet of living space.
You can get the plan as a PDF for $200 or AutoCAD files for $400.
9. Enviro Earthbag Dome
The Enviro Earthbag Dome is a livable plan by Owen Geiger.
The dome occupies 811 square feet with a 23′ x 42′ footprint. It’s designed to accommodate everything you need for modern living.
This plan is ideal for any family, with everything from sleeping lofts and an office to living and storage space.
It’s also your go-to option if you’re on a tight budget.
The PDF version costs $300, while AutoCAD files cost $500.
10. Farmhouse
Farmhouse is an earthbag house plan designed by Owen Geiger.
It’s a two-story house with an extension for a shed and family room. The plan has four bedrooms and three bathrooms.
It occupies 1,440 square feet (928 square feet interior and a 512 square feet upper floor).
As a hybrid plan, it incorporates earthbag and post-and-beam strawbale construction methods.
Alternatively, you can use perlite, scoria, or rice hulls instead of straw.
The digital PDF version of the kit costs $300, while its AutoCAD files are sold for $500.
11. Fourplex
This is a design for an investment property by Owen Geiger. It’s a hybrid design that combines earthbags, cob, strawbales, and wood.
The Fourplex house plan is partitioned into four units, each with an interior of 462 square feet, one bedroom, and one bathroom.
There is an additional 8-inch (20.32 cm) wrap around the porches to enhance the building’s aesthetic appeal.
The plan features the relevant elevations, cross-section details, floor plans, and other details needed to make a complete house.
You can get the PDF digital plan for $200 and the AutoCAD files for $400.
A point worth noting is that PayPal is the preferred payment mode for all the above earthbag house kits.
Final Thoughts
Proper research before purchasing an earthbag house kit or plan is essential.
Thorough research will help you understand your project’s essential features and specifications.
The above earthbag house kits and plans are an excellent way to get your project off the ground. With these earthbag house plans, you’ll save time and money.
Once you have the house plan, the next step is to buy construction materials. Here are the eight best places to buy your earthbag building supplies.
