RESIDENTS who live off-grid in a “hobbit-house” village featured on Grand Designs have had strange complaints about their home.
Locals in the Lammas eco village in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, saw it appear on Channel 4‘s hit show, known for its ambitious housing projects and unique architectural work, in 2016.
Channel 4Simon and Jasmine Dale’s ecopad appeared on Grand Designs in 2016[/caption]
Channel 4But the eco “hobbit house” built for only £27,000 was destroyed in a fire[/caption]
Simon and Jasmine Dale built the UK’s cheapest house for just £27,000.
It impressed host Kevin McCloud with its innovative design and he praised the couple as “real role models” for sustainable living.
McCloud told viewers: “This won’t be a cramped hobbit house, but a spacious, solid, three-bed, low-impact family home.”
It has a little wooden door – just like one would find in the Shire, home to hobbits in Tolkien’s fantasy novel – and a small round window looking out at the views.
But a horror blaze at the ecopad on New Year’s Day in 2018 left Simon and Jasmine Dale and their two children homeless.
The family originally built the eco house because they wanted an outdoor lifestyle and to live off the land.
Thankfully, there are other “hobbit houses” in the eco-village but locals say that some tourists have annoyed them.
Despite most tourists described as being “eager to learn” and “respectful”.
Some were said to have been “gawking” and treating a way of life as a day out.
Other commenters on social media have described the place as “dark and dingy”.
While another user said that the place is “claustrophobic” and appears “jumbled and messy”.
Another said: “Each to their own but it is not for me.”
However, comments have been overwhelmingly positive online, describing the place as a “beautiful retreat”.
One Facebook user writing on the official page said: ” I’d love to live there, help build it up and just live in a nice small community where everyone does their bit. Love this!”
Jasmine and Dale originally built the eco house because they wanted an outdoor lifestyle and to live off the land.
But disaster hit when a faulty electric heater sparked a fire while Jasmine was home alone.
The rest of the Dale family were visiting relatives a few miles away.
It was a devastating coincidence as their first eco-property also burnt to the ground.
Known as The Hobbit House, it was built in 2003 using £3,000 worth of materials – including straw bales.
“We’re still in complete shock, I can’t say how I feel. But we know the feeling, our first home burnt down so we have been here before I suppose,” Jasmine told The Telegraph at the time.
She added: “We’re trying to hope that this will be a blessing in disguise and we have received so much love, but we know we won’t be able to recreate this home.”
Andy Wells, a close friend and neighbour, continued: “She managed to get out safely then had to stand there as the home they built and loved disappeared in a short time.
AlamyLammas eco village is home to a number of “hobbit houses”[/caption]
AlamyThey are eco-friendly and sustainable[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
