An Earthship is a home designed to be completely self-sufficient and sustainable. This innovative housing concept champions creative recycling: its structural walls are built with used tyres, packed with earth to create natural thermal mass, which keeps the temperature stable and comfortable all year round. Earthships are designed to provide self-sufficiency in various aspects of daily life, from energy and water to food production and waste management.

These homes make use of passive solar energy and solar panels to generate electricity and heat water, cutting down dependence on external energy sources. For water, Earthships collect and filter rainwater, reusing it for household needs and crop irrigation.

Earthships also feature indoor greenhouses, which enable zero-mile food cultivation, offering residents food autonomy. Waste management follows a closed loop, with composting and greywater systems that transform organic waste into fertiliser for the garden. The goal? To live in harmony with nature, reducing one’s ecological footprint and fostering a deep connection with the earth.

The Story of Aardehuis

The Aardehuis community is one of the world’s largest Earthship ecovillages, with 23 homes built thanks to the support of over 2,000 volunteers from around the world. Altogether, more than 100,000 hours of work went into creating this village, which uses materials like earth, straw, wood, and recycled elements, including car tyres and glass bottles.

The village is designed to ensure natural comfort year-round, using passive solar design to keep homes warm in winter and cool in summer. Aardehuis homes are equipped with composting systems for organic waste, solar panels for electricity, and a rainwater collection system.

Through a collaborative, sustainable lifestyle, the Aardehuis community shows that it’s possible to live in harmony with the environment, reducing ecological footprint and fostering a profound connection between residents and nature.

Community Life and Shared Spaces

Aardehuis is more than just a collection of Earthships; it’s a real community, now home to 60 residents. With no fences between homes, an open, social environment promotes dialogue and collaboration among neighbours. Walking through the village, residents can pick fruit from the trees or use the community garden for fresh produce.

The village also has a community building where residents gather for events, workshops, and meetings, as well as group gardening days and other social activities. The balance between personal privacy and shared spaces reinforces both independence and a sense of belonging.

This lifestyle allows Aardehuis residents to live with an authentic connection, based on mutual support and community values. Here, taking care of oneself is an act of respect that extends to others and the surrounding ecosystem. Every daily action becomes a shared growth moment and a commitment to a regenerative lifestyle that reflects the ancient bond between humanity and nature.

Construction and Design

Aardehuis Earthships use compacted soil-filled tyres to create solid, insulating walls, with each tyre weighing between 100 and 150 kilos. Each home is finished with natural materials like clay and wood, which help regulate indoor humidity and give a warm, organic look. A concrete beam is placed above the walls for stability and to support the roof.

Interiors vary from house to house, with unique shapes and finishes reflecting each family’s preferences. Many homes use clay plaster, which not only adds an aesthetic touch but also maintains balanced humidity, making these homes comfortable and healthy.

Energy Self-Sufficiency

The Aardehuis Earthships are highly energy-efficient by design. Thick walls provide natural insulation, helping to maintain stable indoor temperatures. Homes capture and store solar warmth in winter and stay cool in summer, minimising the need for additional heating or cooling systems. For extra warmth, each home has a rocket mass heater that uses minimal wood while providing lasting heat.

Water Self-Sufficiency

Aardehuis collects and purifies rainwater, which is used for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and watering crops, drastically reducing potable water use. This closed water system is a fundamental element of Earthship sustainability, allowing the community to be self-sufficient even in water, a critical advantage in times of increasing water scarcity.

Aardehuis’s Decision-Making System

Organisationally, Aardehuis employs a consensus-based decision-making system. All community members participate in village decisions, fostering a democratic and inclusive management style. This approach ensures that each resident feels heard and valued, creating an environment where everyone plays an active role.

The Economic System of Aardehuis

Economically, the community is based on principles of sharing and exchange. Resources are used collectively, reducing individual expenses. Additionally, Aardehuis has partnerships with the local municipality and other organisations, strengthening the village’s capacity to maintain its financial self-sufficiency and to develop sustainable infrastructure that supports both the village and the wider region.

The Challenges of Building an Earthship

At Aardehuis, securing building permits for Earthships took time, as materials like recycled tyres and straw needed to meet local regulations. Living in an Earthship also means managing limited resources and maintaining systems for collection, filtration, and composting, which require technical skills and a fair amount of resilience.

However, pursuing this lifestyle within ecovillages like Aardehuis makes the process easier, with shared resources, responsibilities, and collective learning. Working closely with local authorities is essential for compliance, as is building a community ready to learn and collaborate.

Projects and Training at Aardehuis

Thanks to its community resilience, Aardehuis has become a model of sustainable living, visited by schools, architects, and curious individuals from around the world. Aardehuis organises guided tours and training days open to anyone interested in learning about Earthship lifestyles and eco-friendly building principles.

Besides tours, Aardehuis hosts workshops on specific topics like rocket mass heater construction, greywater filtration using helophyte plants, and creative recycling techniques. These educational events attract people globally and help spread practical knowledge about self-sufficient, sustainable living.

Volunteers are always welcome and play a valuable role, especially in community gardening and maintaining sustainable systems. This participation provides a unique opportunity for anyone interested in learning building techniques and experiencing Earthship life firsthand.

In a Nutshell

In conclusion, Aardehuis is an ecovillage in Olst that represents a concrete model of how Earthships can revolutionise housing, offering an off-grid and sustainable lifestyle through energy and water self-sufficiency, reduced environmental impact, and the use of recycled materials. This project proves that it’s possible to live in harmony with nature, maintaining high standards of comfort and quality of life while weaving together tradition and innovation. Aardehuis welcomes architects, schools, and visitors, sharing a new vision for sustainable living and building a future where humanity and the environment live in harmony.