Houses Made of Recycled Materials

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An aerial view shows the west side of the building. INSET: New Mexico architect Mike Reynolds.
An aerial view shows the west side of the building. INSET: New Mexico architect Mike Reynolds.
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Mike Reynolds supervising the construction site.
Mike Reynolds supervising the construction site.
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Gobel’s house is being constructed of double layers of aluminum cans.
Gobel’s house is being constructed of double layers of aluminum cans.
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The Gobel construction has already made use of some 125,000 containers.
The Gobel construction has already made use of some 125,000 containers.
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Two large solar collectors serve as the primary heating system.
Two large solar collectors serve as the primary heating system.
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The lightweight containers involved in can construction lend themselves to easy working. 
The lightweight containers involved in can construction lend themselves to easy working. 
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Reynolds builds walls of bottles and cans with bottoms exposed for a decorative effect. 
Reynolds builds walls of bottles and cans with bottoms exposed for a decorative effect. 
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A unique fireplace provides backup heating.
A unique fireplace provides backup heating.

New Mexico architect Mike Reynolds specializes in the design of energy-efficient (and beautiful!) houses made of recycled materials–specifically, aluminum cans and rubber tires.

The young Kentucky-born designer/builder began his architectural career in 1970. Mike, however, felt “unfulfilled” by his lack of contact with the traditional buildings he was asked to design. Moreover, he grew disenchanted with the all too common web of energy dependence, unfair financing, and inefficient materials which went hand in hand with home construction and had caused housing costs to skyrocket.

“The architect alone will charge as much as 10% of the market price of a home, which is why most Americans settle for mass-produced, crackerbox-style houses,” Mike says. “Then, it costs $10,000 to buy a lot in the Taos area, and another $1,000 to get power to the house. So, a person is out at least $15,000 before he or she can even think about the house itself!”

Reynolds set out to beat this system. But when he decided to begin by designing houses built from refuse, he suddenly found himself in the building business as well. “In 1974 when I designed my first ‘can house’, I couldn’t find anyone to build it,” Mike recalls. “So I formed my own construction company, and, since then, I’ve built every one of the houses I’ve designed.”

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  • Published on Mar 1, 1979
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