On a long stretch of highway in New Mexico, leading to where it appeared to “no where” we approached an absolute bizarre community just past the Rio Grande Gorge. So of course, we had to stop and check it out. What we thought at first were simply mounds of tires, glass bottles and pipes popping up out of the ground were actually homes - that’s right homes. These bizarre homes were built from old recycled rubber car/truck tires, recycled glass bottles, recycled tin cans, plaster (adobe/stucco), bottle caps and many other recycled materials. Wow, it was such a unique sight to see. It was inspiring to see such trash put to use and actually appear attractive. The sunlight reflecting in the clear, green and brown glass bottles danced on the earthy ground showcasing gorgeous hues. This sight was a huge eye-opener, as the simple things in life can in fact be used in a multitude of ways if one can just stop to imagine it. As a graphic designer I will be able to take this experience and new thinking into a light that allows me to use color and shapes in a entirely new way. Because hey who would have guessed that trash can be gorgeous and even turned into a home.

An Earthship is a utopian type of passive solar home made of natural and recycled materials. Designed and marketed by Earthship Biotecture of Taos, NM, the homes are primarily constructed to work autonomously and are generally made of earth-filled tires, utilising thermal mass construction to naturally regulate indoor temperature. They also usually have their own special natural ventilation system. Earthships are a type of off-grid home, which minimizes their reliance on public utilities and fossil fuels.

Earthships are built to utilize the available local resources, especially energy from the sun. For example, windows on the sunny side admit light and heat, and the buildings are often horseshoe-shaped to maximize natural light and solar-gain during winter months. Likewise, the thick, dense outer walls provide effective insulation against summer heat.

Internal, non-load-bearing walls are often made of a “honey comb” of recycled cans joined by concrete and are referred to as tin can walls. These walls are usually thickly plastered with adobe or stucco.

The roof of an Earthship is heavily insulated - often with earth or adobe - for added energy efficiency.

BD @ the Earthship Biotecture Center