May 18th 2024.
Last year, a Tasmanian architect by the name of Jiri Lev embarked on a challenging journey as a novice builder. Unlike most builders, Lev had no prior hands-on experience in construction. However, in just six short months, he was able to construct his own home for a modest price of $150,000, which is a fraction of the cost of a standard new home.
Lev's mission is to prove that housing can still be accessible and affordable in Australia. In order to achieve this, he designed the plans for his northern Tasmanian home himself, keeping simplicity and ease of construction at the forefront of his mind. His goal is to make these plans free and accessible to all as open source documents, in the hopes that others will join him in his vision.
The 120-square metre home was built using simple materials, with approximately 90 percent of them sourced locally within the state. Lev used hardwood for the floors, pine wood, and Australian BluScope steel, emphasizing the importance of using local materials to save both money and time.
Surprisingly, building the home with no prior experience was a relatively easy task for Lev. He attributes this to his careful planning and design, rather than his background as an architect. Lev admits that while being an architect does come with some advantages, such as knowledge of design and regulations, he had to learn everything about building just like anyone else.
Despite the common belief that building a home is a complex and daunting task, Lev believes that most people would be able to follow his design with ease. His "Tasmanian Homestead" design avoids modern construction methods that require cranes and multiple people, opting instead for traditional techniques used by our forefathers.
Lev explains, "I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel, I'm just reminding people what the wheel is. I'm using design principles that have been around in Australia for centuries. The home is designed in a step-by-step manner, allowing an average able-bodied person to put everything together. This is how our forefathers built their homes - brick-by-brick or stick-by-stick."
To educate himself on the building process, Lev turned to online resources such as YouTube. He found that by taking it one step at a time, building his home was surprisingly easy. This is why he is passionate about encouraging others to follow in his footsteps.
While Lev did enlist the help of tradespeople for tasks such as plumbing and electrical work, he was still able to keep the overall cost of building the home relatively low. Lev explains, "I had a plumber and an electrician, as these are essential trades. But even with these costs included, along with the septic, the total cost was $150,000, plus my time."
Sustainability was also a key aspect of Lev's design. He minimized the use of chemicals in the home, and the wood on the walls was left untreated. Natural oils were used to prevent staining on the hardwood floors. Lev also incorporated unique features, such as a "convection door" that he designed himself. The top panel of this door can be opened to allow for a free flow of heat during the winter months.
Lev believes that his open plan design would be more suitable for a rural setting rather than a suburban one, as it allows for more privacy. He explains, "It's really designed for a more rural setting where privacy constraints are not as much of an issue. It would be suitable for people who may have purchased a cheap block of land outside of the city."
As someone who is passionate about traditional and beautifully-proportioned homes, Lev made the decision to make his plans accessible and open source. He believes that not everyone can afford to build a home these days, and if he can help by providing something for free, then why wouldn't he? Lev adds, "It doesn't cost me anything."
However, Lev emphasizes the importance of hiring a local draftsman to ensure that the design meets all local requirements, such as shading. He also believes that his homestead would be well-suited for eco villages or government social housing schemes, and could even help renters enter the housing market.
Lev concludes by saying, "Housing doesn't have to be a cookie-cutter type thing, all it requires is a pinch of imagination. We have so many able-bodied men who may feel demotivated, possibly living in social housing with their families. I believe many of them are eager to work, but perhaps there are obstacles in finding employment. Just imagine if these individuals could build their own homes for their families and learn a trade in the process. This could be the start of their career."
Lev hopes that his work will inspire others to see the possibilities and simplicity of building their own homes. He believes that even in today's world, it is accessible and can be done with ease, all while creating a beautiful and unique home.
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