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Roots of Health's Palawan mud house.Behold the first-ever mud house in <a href="http://www.palawan.gov.ph/about.php">Palawan, Philippines.</a> It's an exercise in cooperative design and creative, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/sustainable-building">sustainable building</a> that, upon completion, will withstand years of Palawan’s typhoons, high temperatures, and, yes, termites. The roof is cogon grass from local trees, the frame is <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/bamboo">bamboo</a> from nearby stands, and the walls are made of mud from the ground outside, held up by glass bottles. Read on for an exclusive look inside!1
Front porch of the mud house.The front porch of the mud house in-progress in July 2011.2
Goats at the mud houseA family of free-ranging goats keeps the mud house's lawn trimmed.3
The Mud House in April 2011In April 2011, the mud house's bamboo frame rose on Ami Evangelista-Swanepoel's farmland in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.4
Mud House Septic TankThe septic tank waits for underground installation next to the mud house in July 2011.5
Front door to the Mud HouseThe stone steps and front door to the mud house under construction in July 2011.6
Leonar Novela and Marcus Swanepoel at work for Roots of HealthMarcus Swanepoel and Leonar Novela fill a vertical garden for Roots of Health in Puerto Princesa, Philippines.7
Beer bottle supports the mud house wallsA recycled San Miguel beer bottle supports the mud house walls.8
Marcus Swanepoel in the mud houseMarcus Swanepoel explains construction while standing in the center of the mud house.9
Electrical socket inside the mud houseThe mud house will have conventional electricity.10
Bamboo ceiling of the mud houseThe round bamboo ceiling of the mud house is covered with two layers of cogon grass.11
Recycled bottles support the wall of the mud houseRecycled bottles support the mud house walls and filter natural light into the rooms.12
Half drum mixer for the mud.A half drum mixer blends red clay, rice husks, straw, and water for a strong mud mixture. Workers use their bare feet to mix the mud.13
The backyard of the mud house under construction.The double-layer cogon roof and the mud house are in-progress in July 2011.14
