Many people are very familiar with the work, writings, and contributions of Lloyd Kahn, the founding editor-in-chief of Shelter Publications, Inc. This photo came from a trip he took to Europe. It’s a little stone hut located on the southwest coast of Ireland.
What’s amazing about this little structure is that it’s constructed without mortar and was probably built around 200 A.D. The trick to its longevity was to fit the stones carefully together with careful attention to each concentric circular course. For me small structures like this define the words sustainable architecture. Photo credit Lloyd Kahn.
Stone Beehive Hut
My favorite of these is the Gallarus Oratory
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallarus_Oratory
Nice find Tom! Thanks.
This is a Trullo.
I was just reading about these in a sidebar titled ‘Indigenous Architecture’ of a book called: ‘A Handmade Life: In Search of Simplicity’ by William Coperthwaite.
Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing (March 7, 2007)
ISBN: 978-1933392479
Thanks Eric. Interesting that the structure in the photo here was taken in Ireland and the Trullo are mainly from Italy (and the Rheinhessen in Germany). It doesn’t really surprise me that a construction method could travel so far though. Nice find… thanks!
These are amazing structures. I saw several of them in Ireland when I was there a few years ago. Beside their longevity, the fact that they were built without any mortar is even more incredible.
I agree… stacked rocks becoming a house is a bit amazing.
When life hands you lemons make lemonade.
When all you have are rocks and need a home, build a rock house.
🙂