Comments on: Natural Building Services – in Alentejo Portugal

By: Jonathan Eveleigh

Jonathan Eveleigh — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 09:36:06 +0000

Good to hear of your project and plans to live on your land.

I can only give you some idea from our experience.
My partner and I lived in a yurt for four years on two plots of land.
We went on to build low-impact removable structures and never a problem for us, or for our friends who have done similar. Fortunately it´s not the UK. Whilst the law is changing and catching up with the northern EEC
low-impact living is usually accepted.

There is an allowance for building even an agricultural use minimum per hectare. I can give you some details

For our yurt to really last we put a net over the canvas, a plastic cover on for the winter, and a sun shade in the Summer – before we simply watched canvas and rope disintegrate. Bare canvas will only last a year without damage.

The Adobe Geo-dome home shown on our home page is a good example
of simple easily constructed semi-permanent structure that can handle the
climate year round.

Hope this helps. All the best!

By: Vivienne Gazey

Vivienne Gazey — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:57:50 +0000

Hello. I am thinking of buying a small piece of land which does not have permission for a building. What are the pros and cons of owning such land and what costs would be incurred. I realise this may be off topic but would really appreciate any advice no matter how small you could provide.

Many, many thanks Viv.

By: fiona martin

fiona martin — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 09:43:49 +0000

hi johnathan
i am living in central portugal and am wanting to extend my house. i would like to do this build in straw bale. the camera muncipal that i am working with have had no experience with eco builds and are not in a hurry to find out any info, which leaves it down to me to present them with the info required. basically i need to prove through example of house already built in straw bale that they complie to the legal specifications of the thermic and sound proofing european laws with the correct codes that specify this.
i was wondering if you have any info that could help me with this or be able to point me in the direction to go.
any help will be greatly appreciated.
ciao fi.