Off the Grid Houses for Escape, by Dominic Bradbury, reviewed

Published by Thames and Hudson, available here, Off the Grid Houses  is a thought provoking and visually spectacular book.

Recent advances in technologies and home-generated renewable energy have made building away from urban and rural infrastructures more practical, affordable and desirable than ever. This survey of the world’s most innovative off-grid homes reveals the stunning spaces and constructions that enable us to escape to some of the most extraordinary natural environments on the planet.

Off the Grid Houses for Escape, reviewed

The range of locations covered in this book is impressive, covering many locations all over the world. including some in very remote places. Some of the buildings though are not permanent homes, often stating that they are only lived in for three seasons of the year. In this regard it does mean that, while these houses are visually stunning, and inspiring, they are, at times, not the complete deal in terms of liveable homes for permanent living.

In a similar vein there is the clear hand print of architectural concepts and designs across many of these houses. Frank Lloyd Wright designed many visually stunning houses, but if you have ever visited any of them, while you marvel at many aspects of his designs, there are also tight angles, and cold, damp patches. Similarly with some of these houses, there are sparse, minimal floors, high ceilings, and, to be honest, stark interiors, including those using engineered MDF or plywood looking sheets of wood. This is seemingly now a high end design material in top spec houses, but it still makes it feel like a building site or an advertising hoarding.

With these caveats considered, this is still a gorgeous and inspirational book. Perhaps much like high end clothes fashion, these are the ideas that get the conversation started. After which, the best elements are retained, and the starker, less suited to family living aspects are dialled down.  The fact that so there are so many interesting, exciting houses now being built off the grid does demonstrate that sustainable living is becoming a more and more achievable goal, for more of us too. Even if we might not want everything from some of these houses if we are to make warm and softer homes for living in.

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