The Cheerville Project: A 100% Cement-Free Farmhouse

Our vision for Cheerville, illustrated. These architectural drawings show the harmony between the structure and its natural surroundings, outlining the use of earth domes and natural materials to create a home that is truly part of the landscape.

Here is a look at the anatomy of our Cheerville project. This illustration details the layers of our sustainable design, from the stone masonry foundation to the flattened bamboo and the final bottle wall, showcasing how each natural element plays a crucial role.

Looking up from inside the earthbag dome during its construction at Cheerville. This structure, built with upcycled onion sacks filled with earth, is a testament to the speed and strength of this technique, and a source of immense pride for the women who built it.

A closer look at the earthbag dome's texture. We used upcycled onion sacks filled with soil from the site and layered them with barbed wire acting as mortar. This ancient, low-cost method creates incredibly strong and beautiful structures.

This textured wall is finished with Thappi, a traditional Rajasthani lime plaster technique. Our all-women mason team was trained by a master artisan, bridging knowledge from the north to the south of India and keeping ancestral skills alive.

A woman mason applies daub to a wattle frame. This ancient wattle-and-daub technique uses a woven bamboo lattice filled with a mix of local clay and natural fibers. For this project, we even used upcycled dog hair for added strength and insulation.

The exterior of the wattle-and-daub structure at Cheerville, showcasing the beautiful texture of the woven bamboo. This sustainable approach, created in collaboration with artisans from Assam and Meghalaya, uses bamboo instead of metal for the framework.

The process of applying the daub mixture to the bamboo wattle. This method creates a breathable, insulated wall that connects the home to its natural environment, using materials sourced directly from the land.

This is our bottle wall at Cheerville, a perfect example of turning waste into beauty. Using recycled glass bottles as masonry units, we created a functional wall that allows colorful, patterned light to filter through, adding a playful and sustainable touch.