40 Incredible Photos Show Why Earthships Make the Perfect Home

Ever dream of getting away from it all? Perhaps you should consider living in—or even building—an Earthship. These off-grid/mostly off-grid dwellings are some of the greenest and most economical buildings in the world, and are made from recycled materials such as glass bottles, old tires, reclaimed wood and plenty of elbow grease. Sound a little too rustic? These 40 incredible images might convince you otherwise.

This is the Phoenix Earthship in Taos, New Mexico. Amazingly, you can even stay here.Earthship Biotecture

They can be incredibly whimsical and complex …

The HIVE, which serves as campus housing for Earthship Interns and Academy students. Earthship Biotecture

Or something much simpler, like this …

Earthship Haiti exterior. These buildings and systems can be duplicated by locals. Earthship Biotecture

These homes can be built anywhere and in any climate.

In the mountains.Earthship Biotecture

In a plain. Earthship Biotecture

In the destert.Earthship Biotecture

Want a little more space? They can also have multiple stories.

A three-story Earthship. Earthship Biotecture

These are real Earthships are all over the world.

Earthship Biotecture

Gorgeous mountain view.Earthship Biotecture

Or like this!

Beautiful sunset.Earthship Biotecture

These beauties have all the bells and whistles of green buildings, such as renewable power …

Solar panels provide clean, green power.Earthship Biotecture

… recycled materials …

Bottles create colorful walls that let light through.Earthship Biotecture

The walls are strong and don’t have to follow any traditional structure.Earthship Biotecture

(Take a closer look at the walls!)

Glass and plastic bottles. Earthship Biotecture

Grout and bottle caps. Earthship Biotecture

… as well as these other green building features, below.

A sustainable building. Earthship Biotecture

Another reason to build an Earthship? These homes encourage people to come together.

Working towards a common goal. Earthship Biotecture

Building a wall out of old tires. Earthship Biotecture

Laying down the foundation.Earthship Biotecture

It takes hard work to build an Earthship, but it also looks like a lot of fun. Earthship Biotecture

They are built to empower communities, such as this school in Africa.

The Goderich Waldorf School in Sierra Leone. Earthship Biotecture

They also serve as disaster relief, such as the Windship Philippines, an aerodynamic storm shelter that’s typhoon resistant.

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So what does an Earthship look like inside? The possibilities are endless.

Stunning Earthship interior.Earthship Biotecture

And they can fit in the “tiny home” movement.

A “tiny home” Earthship with a lofted bed.Earthship Biotecture

Cozy bedroom.Earthship Biotecture

Who wouldn’t want to wake up to this?Earthship Biotecture

Spiral staircase to the Earthship Towers roof. Earthship Biotecture

Colorful kitchen. Earthship Biotecture

Comfy living room. Earthship Biotecture

A living room in an Earthship in Argentina. Earthships Biotecture

These homes have plenty of light and can house multiple plants.

Garden in the kitchen. Earthship Biotecture

A hallway with an indoor garden. Earthship Biotecture

This means you can grow your own food, even in the winter.

Greenhouse.Earthship Biotecture

Food produced in the Earthship Visitors Center.Earthship Biotecture

You can shower in rain water, then grow plants and crops with that shower water and then flush the toilet with the leftover water from the plants.

Banana plant grows in gray water. Earthship Biotecture

Wash your face with filtered and solar-heated rain water. Earthship Biotecture

You’d never leave the bathtub with a view like that. Earthship Biotecture

The water system is practically full circle. Earthship Biotecture

These sustainable homes are the brainchild of Earthship Biotecture Founder Mike Reynolds.

“When you start taking responsibility for your own energy-consumption needs you start using less and this is what it will take to allow everyone on the planet to live,” the New Mexico-based architect once said in an interview.

He added, “The more simply you learn how to live the happier you’re going to be and the less stress you’ll have.”

Architect and Earthship guru Mike Reynolds.Earthship Biotecture

Check out the video below to see how these homes are built.

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