Austin coder builds timeless cob home using precise patterns
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- Опубліковано 3 сер 2014
- When Gary Zuker bought an undeveloped piece of land outside of Austin (Texas) 25 years ago, he knew the only way he could afford a home on it was to build it himself. With no building experience, he immersed himself in architecture books at the University of Texas (where he works as a computer engineer).
He fell in love with medieval straw-clay cottages and cob buildings from around the world. After just a day learning the technique on another build, he was ready to build his own home.
Besides advice from an architect friend to use a scissor-truss system for roof support, and some help with framing, stonework, and plumbing, Zuker worked alone (no building permits were required in Travis County at that time). The build ended up taking him 3 years (nights and weekends while working full-time) and cost about $40,000 ($25,000 to build the house and $15,000 for the well and septic system).
Zuker was heavily influenced by the classic design handbook A Pattern Language (written mainly by architect Christopher Alexander) so rather than designing the home ahead of time, he waited to decide on details until after the home was under construction.
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This guy is the literal definition of "fine, I'll do it myself"
wonderful
It’s perfectly balanced, as all things should be.
It has to be the worse case of "Not invented here", it escalated wonderfully!
Best comment ever!!
XD
I've returned to this video more times than I can count over the years. Yesterday, the county finally approved our design. We begin building our straw bale house next week!
Thank you for posting this inspirational video.
Amazing! Congrats!! Will you be documenting the process?
A year passed since your comment, tell us more about your project, please. Is it finished?
I'd love to hear about your results if that's ok
hello! I am looking for examples of cob structures could you tell me where you live?
That is wonderful.
"you just keep scratching your head until you find a way that works" 8:25 love this philosophy
Gary, I write this in all sincerity: this is not just a house and a home, it is a work of Art, truly. well done, Sir.
MHGinTN 🙏🙏🙏
yes !
Astonishingly beautiful home, I used the book, “a pattern language,“ just like this builder did. And I have a storybook style house also. It took me five years to do it. You can get no better guidance than from the book we both used. It was a delightful time of my life building that home about 10 years ago. My house is so storybook style that children are afraid to come trick-or-treating, ha ha!
Wow very true it is Art!
Gary, through my tears I want to tell you what a precious spirit you are!
You followed your dream not even knowing quite what that dream was,.. You allowed nature to assist you in your dream weaving. Much love to you and your family and thank you for showing us your home
This guy personifies the If you want something nice but can't afford it but you build it yourself. Coming up with the woodland style on his own in the '80's is excellent. Well done.
That isn't a house... it is a piece of art!
Lillie Belle agreed
¡La casa es una escultura!
It's both
It is gorgeous
finally a cob house in america that doesn't look like it was made by the grateful dead. absolutely beautiful.
Now that was funny.!
dont knock the dead
Lmao
I know!!! Almost every time I see something like this it's always so... "hippie-ish", if that's a thing. Few people seem to just make a *traditional* style house. It's nice to see and I hope more people follow suit.
@@will9357 wow! i'm sorry i didn't see your comment until now. thank you and i'm so glad to hear that. i always think it myself but usually i'm not laughing. hahaha.
Really loved what Gary says about software/coding being so short lived.. that he wanted to build something real and timeless. What an incredible work of art!!
"...offensive to my eye...!" (a normal fridge)...what a smart and artistic man - what a dreamhouse he built before it was even cool! Salute!!
I didn't realize how slick the designs are until we got into the kitchen appliances and the copper encased microwave and fridge... but seriously (and i watch a lot of these DIY home building projects) this is one of the most lovable and homey self built houses I have seen.
indeed ! the kitchen copper modifications just blew my mind. Unfortunate the microwave sounds like it might need replacing. Would really like to watch him make a new front for it. What a brilliant idea to reface ugly whitegoods. This video is very inspiring.Will watch it again
Have to agree.
Art meets craftmanship , add a touch of pragmatism.
Oh my goodness ! This house is right out of fairy tales & my dreams ! I adore this home. I'd rather have this house than any 1,000.000 dollar house. It's perfect ! Everything about it is special ! I would love to live there....very lucky people who own this home. Mr. Zuker did an awesome job !!!!
This probably is the 1 000 000 house :) !
Whimsical and cozy ....
Exactly
The one thing I'd definitely rethink is the stairway. Hard on the knees -- and the forehead.
Don’t tell the tax man that.?
I hope you sent the stain glass maker a picture and showed him what you created.
He said, you can't do that! Well, yes you did! Love this house! Congrats!
I could have watched another 20 minutes of this guy. Nice video KD.
Bob Vance I agree! Would have liked a more complete video of the layout! There were many interesting wood choices that should have been shown!
Yeah, what a pleasant fellow and such a gorgeous labour of love and practicality.
Two hours.
Indeed, this video was particularly pleasing to me as well, though I'm a regular watcher and a fan, I suppose.
Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration
This house was super unique, warm , and inviting. The fact he had zero experience in home building when he started his build had a lot to do with its remarkable nature. In essence his blindfold were also his glasses. His lack of knowledge played a great deal into the paths taken to discover building technique and what was and was not possible. No constraints because he wasn’t burdened with convention building doctrine. AMAZING
Gorgeous! THe Japanese farmhouses were built without math, too.
With rough wood, planks, straw, thick rope, stones, clay. i do't think they even used nails.
A friend of mine is an artisanal wood worker/carpenter and uses no external measurements, technical diagrams, rulers, etc.. He simply feels the different wood and imagines their correct shapes and forms yet converts them into dressers, bars, doorways, etc. A Japanese couple living in here in the US wanted to convert their home into traditional Japanese decor but felt it would be too expensive to hire a traditional Japanese builder and that American builders wouldn't understand it well enough to do it justice. They paid for him to design a single Shoji style wall and sliding screen as a kind of test. He told me that the moment the wife slid the door across to close it she started crying. They hired him to be their personal carpenter for their house and all future projects from then on.
What's more impressive than the gorgeous final results is this man's attitude. He has a gentle, joyful approach where I've often seen over-planning. I was delighted to hear him say the basics of cob building could be learned in a couple hours (though I need more time than that!) gives me some hope I don't need to spend a decade learning and planning... there's something to be said in the simple "doing" 😊
Wow, this is THE house that made me love cob and learn how to work with it. I saw it in a printed magazine many years ago. I'm -this close- to starting my own home project on unimproved land. Thanks Gary!
I think I saw the same write up!
Mr. Zuker is a consumate artist, and has created not a house, but a home full of magic. The tips about improving the worst spot on the property, and siting the door first, this is pure gold. Absolutely inspiring man and video. Thank you!
OMG, he built one of the most amazing looking DIY houses without any skills! He must be gifted
This man definitely has skills and a very intelligent mind. He is just too humble to admit it
Actually , he has PLENTY of skills. And smarts.
He read books . Those books gave him SKILLS .. Skills are obtained learning or practicing something. he both learnead and practiced. anyone can create a house Like that with enough knoledge
You've left your footprints on the sands of time. Good work.
💕
😭
Gary is a living testament to being bale to build without formal training. Its in our human blood to be builders since the dawn of time. Totally agree with build and design as you.
Wow! Just incredible. As a carpenter myself, i can tell you that the hardest part of the job is creating the design. The inspiration. I can nail sticks together all day but without inspiration and imagination it may just look like a pile of sticks. I truly wish my designers and architects would let their minds wonder like this. This is wonderful.
You can tell he really loved building this house. The level of detail and the craftsmanship is amazing. And he beams when he is talking about it. We should all be more like this man. Kudos!
lol you can't be you're not white :'D
Every mexican neighborhood is a case study in lazy shittiness lolol
@@grarglejobber4263 ( that's not nice ! )
the building codes today[government] would never permit this structure. sad what we've become. Heavily taxed and over regulated. it's beautifully hand crafted. Long after our little square boxes are gone. People will be coming to view this masterpiece.
@@grarglejobber4263 Your lack of originality barely disguises your insecurities. Being racist doesn't make you better than others; just dumber.
@@grarglejobber4263 wow imagine being a racist piece of shit
So beautiful. I am always amazed at people who have the ability to just take on projects like this. In the fast paced world we live it, not many doers left!
Not only do I absolutely love what he built, but how he built it. I love his philosophy, his beliefs, his heart. This is exactly how a home should be built.
The roof is absolutely beautiful, loving the roof tiles! And making the kitchen so steampunk with all the copper casings and soapstone - genius and very esthetically pleasing
This is the type of guy that just never sits down and gets stuff done. My older Brother is the same way. I admire that greatly.
Greg> Yes, & it's true that "necessity IS the mother of invention"! His home is wonderful & uniquely his own no other like it.
Greg Appelgren me too lol. Wish I was Hyper active. I have the opposite with 0 energy.
Elijah Owens The more you do, the more energy you’ll have as your body strengthens and tones. The added bonus is finding more and more things you love and the increasing list of things you’re good at.
Greg Appelgren shut your pie hole, and pay your taxes! You don't got time to be watching UA-cam
People don't realize how lucky they are to have healthy bodies, and able to do what your mind conjures up. Being limited to what my back allows, I could only appreciate such opportunity, and enjoy what a creative mind puts together 😁 Whether he had the expertise to do what he's done, or not, he's put together something that is one of a kind, and super creative! That's my kind of guy, and house lol Christina 🎀
The House that Gary Built. Sounds like a good bedtime story and the house he built is like a dream come to life. I've seen many houses in my decades of architectural perusals, but non satisfy my soul the way this dwelling does. Attention to detail is, of course, the secret to the enduring appeal of this creation, and I cannot thank you enough for sharing the history of you and your creation. Many blessings on you both!
'I kind of did this by accident, I had no experience I didn't even own a saw' well gdamn
Ok Great !!!! Now here is a man that understands that when you have a mortgage on a
Home the bank actually owns your home not you. Great job Gary!
Exactly!
I keep trying to say that to someone who keeps bugging me to refinance and take some money out. I’m like I’m good. I want the house to be mine and have no debt.
Another thing most people don't understand- You don't even own the property your house is on (and never will), the government does. Try not paying your property tax for a few years and see what happens. A mortgage simply means there are two co-owners of what you believe is your property.
@@beeorganic do you know of any books that shatter these sort of illusions. I remember when I found out about property tax I intuitively understood the sham. When I tried to argue with my dad he appealed to some trite shit like, "well it's the price we pay to live in an educated society." I'm sure there are many other instances which I'd love to be informed on.
@@dreamer097 I get it in some sense. If something happens and you need emergency services like police, ambulance, firefighters, etc., the government uses your property taxes to pay their salaries. If you have kids and don't want to homeschool, property taxes pay for the teacher and staff salaries for the public school. If you want to use the roads around you without getting a flat, local taxes cover that too.
This IS the best house I have ever seen. Maybe he channeled a past life experience as a brilliant homesteader. Thanks a lot!
I absolutely love this house, the way it looks, the way it was built, his resourcefulness, his philosophy and ideas. It could be in a museum. He really created value for his family through his industriousness.
I hope it’s preserved as the treasure it is. He should put it in a trust with maintenance funds, because land like this is valuable so close to Austin and with new owners it would be scraped and new McMansion built.
This guy is really bright, takes problems and finds easy/effective solutions!
Easy is the last word I would use to describe the methods he is using. They are effective, and efficient. But hardly easy......
I'm 19 and I fking love it!
Greetings from the Netherlands.
Make it happen!
now you are 25 :D How are you doing ?
@@omerfaruk2666 Still haven't bought (a normal) house :) How're you?
I honestly think this is the most beautiful home I have ever seen. Absolutely breathtaking. It literally brought tears to my eyes.
I watch a lot of DYI videos and struggle to follow the frequent quick edits and thick jargon. By contrast, this man is a natural teacher. I'd love to take a course in building from him in real life.
yeah I'm very tactile, and this house is just soo interesting...so many textures, and layers and natural material
A masterpiece my man! Im a carpenter and you are a true artist well done!!!
Gary.... as I sit here, no running water, a cracked and failing foundation, leaking roof... I STILL persevere! I'm getting older now... and if I can keep this legacy house I inherited alive for 20 more years? Im good.... My family built this house 53 yrs ago... from an existing house of 40 yrs old... so, 93 yes now... For all its problems, its mine. Its unique, and I love it.
it's like the work of his life. This kind of thing is not built in a year or two. It's thought of, dreamt of then put into action. Family, care and warmth is the vibe of this house.
This reminds me so much of my brother and my dad. My brother built a beautiful log home from scratch. My dad built a ranch style home. Neither had any previous experience. I love this home.
Only $25K?... I'm impressed.
I'll get my hands on that book "A Pattern Language (written mainly by architect Christopher Alexander)"
Gary seems like such a peaceful, pleasant man to be around, and the home he has built is absolutely beautiful and looks equally as peaceful and pleasant.
I follow several other UA-cam channels of people who have built their homes out of whatever is prevalent in their particular corner of the world. A few things I’ve gathered is that they all started young, and they didn’t conform to what society expected them to build. They all had no experience, but sure learned a lot in their process. And what I took away was don’t worry what others expect you to do or not to do. Keep an open mind. Be diligent and work on your house every day.
Beautiful home.
I am so impressed with this gentleman's aesthetic.
What an absolute beauty of a house. No cookie cutter design here. I would like to build something similiar
I was able to build my own home, my dream home, with an unlimited budget, and unlimited time, and I came nowhere near this.
I am agog at what you have accomplished.
We sourced similar materials, read what sounds like all the same materials, and I had all the right tools. I did it as a licensed electrician, a graduate engineer, and a graduate shipwright.
You sir, are a genius.
This is one of the most beautiful homes I’ve ever seen! What a talented guy, I would love to build my home by hand one day! This home is very much ME! Love it!
The appliances have a bit of a "steam-punk" feel...hard to believe it is less than 1000 sf...it feels both spacious and so warm...an imaginative, creative, blessed retreat from the excesses of so many modern homes.
Yeah, that's what I thought too.
definitely "steam punk", good catch!
Absolutely awesome! 'Gotta have a haven like that!!! Just WOW!!! If the lot is private enough, imagine summer out-door baths beside a toasty 'camp-fire', wrapping up together afterwards, in a HUGE soft blanket with marshmallows, apples, & wine .... before going to bed for the night in that charming cottage!?!?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!!! Heaven on Earth.
bookmarkthis
Steam punk has been around at least as long as the house... easily more than 20 years.
bookmarkthis the Hobbit was first published in 1937, so it's very possible that he was influenced and doesn't remember.
Your home is just so inspiring and humbling at the same time. What is it with all the real estate and house buildings in concrete?? makes us sick, unhappy and depressed to live in such pigeon holes which the industry sells us as "Homes". Just drive into Bangalore city, South India and watch the high-rise buildings. No wonder that city is Suicide capital No. 1 in India. It kills the spirit to live like that. Seeing Mr. Zuker's house nourishes the soul and spirit and heart. it is alive! Thank you.
Great story built with no experience and yet it looks stronger then modern houses built by "professional" builders. Well done.
Nice! From the perspective of an artisan/mason of two decades I salute your efforts.
This is one of the most beautiful natural homes I’ve seen online! Thank you for bringing it to us🤗👍🏽
Absolutely inspiring! I just began my own journey towards a cob home. I am only in the planning stages and want to build it to resemble a fairytale style. And although yours is somewhat different than I am planning, many aspects are very much the same. I will begin building by the end of next summer. You did an amazing job! Thank you for sharing!
My husband is a builder, working exclusively in Palm Bch! He could build our home any way. I'm loving this cob home. The wood used is so interesting! After watching this, knowing the man didn't even own a saw before. Wow! Great Job! Wonderful site placement! Best wishes to him & his family. Surely happy memories to come!!!
The man's a genius. Built a gorgeous, priceless one of a kind house out of old items he collected with little cash investment. He could probably sell it for over $750,000 now. Well done!
Good job. I wish I was 50 years younger, I'd give it a shot.
You and me both. Though 20 years younger for me. And I don't think I'm physically strong enough. But my heart is in it.
@@virglibrsaglove I'm sure you'd get strong enough.
@@pynaetlborelse1708 Thanks
This is the best looking cob house I've seen by far. Good job!
What a stunning house. Has great curb appeal and looks as if it has been there for two hundred years. From a distance a visitor can hear it say "Welcome". A friendly and inviting place. To build this house did not cost a fortune, either. The builder and owner has done an amazing job.
Yesh Prabhu, Bushkill, Pennsylvania.
I take my hat off to this guy well done sir.
I love this house! It looks terrific and fits the setting so well. It was interesting to hear the owner talk about his processes. Kudos to him for feeling his way through this and being so innovative and creative. It’s gorgeous.
This is just spectacular. I want so much to do something like this. I'm older but I have dreamt of building my own off grid place since I was a kid but then I bought into the corporate ideology. I'm sick of it and the truth is I never really felt it. I watch your videos and those of others and hope I have the time left to achieve something so personal, beautiful and satisfying. I have a piece of land and I want to build stone and cob. Your presentations have been a real inspiration. I saw a post on another of your vids that you pinned. It was from someone who said that they had low self esteem and got criticism for their independent living and building ideas but they now realize how ridiculous it is to NOT think you can do this. I have come through a lot of the same kind of thing and am just hoping to be able to make the kind of wholesome and beautiful kind of dwelling and life around it that I have always known I wanted but then became afraid to try. I just detest these little apartments in congested car jammed places that have been where I have lived for decades. The worst thing is that they are boring. I really love the stimulation you can get from interesting materials and design and odd space arrangements. Many (most) places seem like prison cells to me. Square rooms , just boxes. Horrible and part of the syndrome of choicelessness. The most important thing I take from this emerging discourse is that there is a choice to what is manufactured for mass consumption and it is attainable and can be cheaper than the "normal" choice.
This house is absolutely amazing! Everything that was put into this house has a history around it!
Hey man, thanks a lot for sharing, the method, your philosophy and all. What a kind fellow. Thanks Kirsten for sharing this knowledge as well!
Glad it was helpful!
I am so impressed. I want to do the same. Love the whole thing, especially the copper and soapstone in the kitchen. Most of all I love the way you think and follow through.
I am in awe! AMAZING, just amazing. Yes, it is a work of art and listening to him describe everything, it is obviously a labor of love. Quite impressive to say the least.
For me, This type of gentleman is what youth should idolize and most def. learn from.
As others have stated, I could have watched and listened to him for days. As I have learned a lot of times, its the journey or process of getting somewhere that is pricelss and memorable.
I will also say, he has just given me more projects and ideas to work on.
Thanking for sharing, as I am a better person for it!!! Be well, Be real, and Be YOU!!
Who would of thought someone who writes computer language would have an artist’s soul?
Wonderful home ❤
So amazing. You can see the love he put into every thing he has made. You look at this and feel at peace .
Very cool I'm so impressed and yet feel so inadequate at the same time. I couldn't imagine myself building something like this.
Well, he said he had no idea how to build a house, and he did... I gess you just need time to make a lot of research and be willing to work and think hard. I hope one day I'll do something like this
I absolutely love this. Its art. It's an outward expression of his practical but also artistic nature.
Good on him for doing this. Also kudos to his wife for supporting his vision.
Absolutely, charming. Love the story and the adorable story teller. He told his tale with both amazement and delirious excitement. To be amazed at his accomplishment and amazed he was able to accomplish it. I applaud you and your family. I would like a small cob home but with BIG ideas. Many Blessing.
Just beautiful and charming. It's amazing you had no prior experience. Love the style and ingenuity. 👍🏻❤️
the lesson learned is we’re more than we imagined. An amazing journey you taught yourself through. Inspiring my capability to work on myself
Respected Sir, your humble abode is a slice of heaven. Built entirely by hand, your hands. Thank you for this much needed inspiration. 🙏🙏
So lovely, old world welcoming. And then picking the right spot and how to design it into the landscape. It is like it is a living part of the land. “Scoured the forest for days”is really reading the land, the land gave him the answers. He was aware and looking and listening and waiting to do it. Now these are such important skills. And making do with what you got. OMG!
Absolutely beautiful place. My favourite place that you have done so far! I love the cob and he did a great job with the appliances and running water etc.
What a beautiful house! This is a real man. Building a home from the ground. Impressive! Other men, please take note!
Absolutely magical! What I like the most is meeting someone who is tenacious and focused on getting it done your way. When everyone else said it couldn’t be done you went and taught yourself the process and made it happen. Much admiration from me, my friend.
This is such an amazing home and what makes it even more is that Gary put so much attention to everything, I mean, come one, that kitchen and appliances enclosures, pure genius! There's absolutely nothing that I would change if I were to build one for myself. Instead of it being one of a kind, by the time I'd finish building mine, there'd be two, Lol! Thank you for posting. I enjoyed this video so much and Gary is so humble. Congrats to him and his family, they live in a gorgeous home.
Those lucky boys, getting to grow up in such a magical house.
Raw intelligence in display.
“There was never a real set of plans....It evolved, it’s part of a philosophy - you wait until you get in the context to decide - does a window go here does a window go there...”
“The worst part of the lot can only be improved and the best part of the lot can only be ruined”
“You place your front door first and you design it so you see the front door of the house first....here’s the important thing and the rest kind of unfolds”
Genius👏
Gorgeous stonework. Estheticslly this man is no novice. The beauty of the building is a testament to his eye
Everyone expects programmers to be rich tech junkies, when many that I've known don't own computers themselves. After all day at work on one they couldn't stand the sight of them. And those that did own one found work difficult as their work computer was orders of magnitude slower than their home computer. And their time off was never "off". Nice place, and nice roof idea. As I wonder if the copper was less about asthetics and more about containing the interference properties that modern electronics have on analog signals.
Interesting idea. Then again, I heard copper surfaces kill germs. Is it true ? He said it was for aesthetics.
@@krisg3984 brass kills germs
@@krisg3984 You're totally right. Copper is a known anti-bacterial surface.
@@krisg3984 It is true. Copper and brass both kill germs. And block electromagnetic pollution. And look pretty.
Absolutely beautiful. :)
Thank you for sharing this! I am trying to get the guys to tackle something similar and this house looks almost exactly to my dream house, and built by someone who admits that they weren’t an expert and more went with intuitive means of building his family’s home. Thank you.
The average person couldn't do this. This guy is obviously very smart and sounds like he has the right friends that helped him. Still a great little house. Very charming.
Absolutely beautiful! Thanks for the inspiration Kirsten...
Wonderful work. I'm a builder myself and I love what you've done with your place. Imagination, creativity and style. Kudos!!
Truly remarkable craftsmanship, guided by intellect and informed intuition. Well done!
I don't know why, but I bump into this video again and again, watching the whole thing again and again.
Thank you for sharing this man's creativity and ingenuity! It's so refreshing and inspiring. Good for him! :)
That's an amazing piece of architecture!
There were books before movies....still the point stands. And your home is beyond wonderful.
This is the BEST inspiration for my dream home!!! Structurally perfect for what I want, and it has MANY elements that I've been merely DREAMING of. I am amazed and so captivated by his dedication from long before cob went "mainstream" as a more popular unconventional type of house-building. This shows me that if he did this without ANY prior knowledge, I can DEFINITELY do this too!!! Good thing one of my best friends is an expert in plumbing and heating lol :)
This was nicely done. Thank you for the simplicity, honesty and experience. Many of us out here are coming full circle and learning to appreciate efforts like yours. Many more will soon be learning and applying similar techniques. Regards.
I really love it! Absolutely beautiful!
I have found my new 10 year goal. Save up and create my own version of this wonderful Art You CanLive In.
He makes it sound like "oh it's nothing, it was easy", ummm... No Sir it's AMAZING!!! You are a true artist!!!