Update on Michael Reynolds

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Both Phase I and Phase II are located on a splendid mesa, west of Taos. And as you'd imagine, Michael's had no trouble renting the individual units to his workers at the bargain rate of $125 a month.

A "BUG" HOUSE

Not one to repeat himself in his work, Reynolds usually designs a new structure, builds it, and then dismisses it . . . moving on to yet another concept (although each new plan is likely inspired, in part, by the preceding one). Mike found that Phase II stuck in his head, though. It seemed to him that if he could make an energy-efficient dwelling that three people could afford to rent, he could surely go one step further and come up with a similar solar home that folks with limited funds could afford to buy. However, in order to do so, he realized that he'd first have to get together with a finance office and figure out some (low-cost) alternative to can-and-tire construction that loan agencies would accept.

Before long, Mike had worked up a plan for a small earth shelter that the FmHA approved, even though the house was to be solar-heated (with a woodstove for backup) and 75% earth-sheltered. He named his newest brainchild the "Volkshome" . . . after the Volkswagen "bug" that has provided a means of low-cost transportation for so many people.

Although they can be modified to almost any size, most Volkshomes (Reynolds has built seven of them so far) have about 1,000 square feet of usable space and are made of earth, wood, and pumice blocks. They're dug into the ground on two levels — one 40 inches higher than the other — and incorporate a south-facing solar collection wall and an interior water-tank wall (which divides the upper sleeping space from the lower living area). Glazing installed above the tanks provides a view of the mesa and allows light to filter through to the bedrooms. (Despite the fact that the split-level plan increased construction expenses, it does allow for much better heat circulation and airflow than would a single-floor design.)

VOLKS FOLKS

Well, the Volkshomes were so appealing that Michael's own foreman, Joe Hoar (a single parent with an elderly mother who sometimes stays with him), bought one! Of course, being a junk-mason from way back, Joe added some of his own touches to the construction . . . including a tin-can stairway. (He also put fireplaces in the bedrooms because, he says, he'd rather watch a fire than a television set!)

And now that Joe's lived in his home for two years, he's a real advocate of this sort of housing. "During all that time," he claims, "we've been trying to figure out ways to improve our Volkshome . . . and we can't think of a one. It must be just about perfect!"

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