Restores abandoned Pyrenees home by hand with regenerative system

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ส.ค. 2024
  • After purchasing a ruin in a hilltop hamlet in the Spanish Pyrenees, Emmanuel Pauwels created a home in close harmony with the elements by first spending an entire year observing the patterns of the wind, sun, and rain. The house is called Cal Guerxo, honoring its traditional name among locals in the hamlet it belongs to.
    Today, the sun provides for passive heating of the home via south-facing windows, but also an antechamber devoted toward capturing the sun's warmth and distributing it through the home. In summer, the wind is funneled through the home for passive cooling.
    Using a system of gutters and a first flush system for cleaning the rooftop water, the home captures, consumes, and returns 80,000 liters of rainwater to the garden every year. The gravity-flow composting toilets (on all floors) use a source separation system so the urine can remain sterile and be diverted to the garden.
    Even the swimming pool is a refuge for the local flora and fauna. Pauwels created an organic pool that is cleaned by a regeneration zone: a natural system of plants and gravel. There are even frog stairs to support the couple of frogs that live in the pool.
    Pauwels believes that homes can give back to their environment: "It's not about being less bad, it's about being good." He also feels strongly that homes in harmony with their context provide more happiness for their occupants.
    More on Cal Guerxo: www.usgbc.org/...
    Green Living Projects: www.greenlivin...
    *On faircompanies: faircompanies....

ความคิดเห็น • 367

  • @mitymi
    @mitymi ปีที่แล้ว +176

    "It's not ab0out being less bad, it's about being good." - Key takeaway.

    • @maodonimega
      @maodonimega ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Absolutely.

    • @OIII-IOOO
      @OIII-IOOO ปีที่แล้ว +3

      words to live by

  • @aaron.silveira
    @aaron.silveira ปีที่แล้ว +233

    This is my favorite video yet. This man is present, conscious, and ambitious. The house feels balanced, creative, and somehow feels humble despite the size. Wonderful perspective!

  • @PaoloSulprizio
    @PaoloSulprizio ปีที่แล้ว +7

    People like him should have key positions in governments

  • @mikanfarmer
    @mikanfarmer ปีที่แล้ว +51

    I'm fairly sure that people comment all the time that 'this is the best house ever', etc .............but without a doubt this is the best house I have seen on your channel, (and watching for over 5 years). The thought through concepts, ...the amount of hard physical work, ...and the attention to detail is second to none, ......in my opinion. Thank you for filming it, ....... and Emmanuel for doing it !

    • @amu444
      @amu444 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Agreed - not trying to be funny but this home is on another level entirely. What an example of comfortable, harmonious living among the wild mountain heights. I can only imagine the sight of those vultures. This is the ultimate, thank you.

    • @pauwelsemmanuel
      @pauwelsemmanuel 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Great to hear you like the house. I did spent a lot of time thinking things though but we can never think things through enough. Thank you though for your kind words

  • @elizabethmorton4904
    @elizabethmorton4904 ปีที่แล้ว +109

    This home is very similar to one that friends of my parents constructed in Vancouver way back in the early 70's. Originally it was a very small home perched on the edge of a hill to the rear. They expanded the rear to form a new kitchen and sitting area at the back, with an open staircase down to the lower level. The back wall faced south, and was entirely glass, so it created a two-storey greenhouse, in which they grew vegetables all year long. The back wall was very thick and absorbed heat during the day, which was radiated to the house after nightfall. They had a small wood stove in a living room at the front of the house, facing north. Except for that small living room the house ran (and presumably still runs) entirely on passive heat, and that worked extremely well even during Vancouver's very cloudy and rainy winters. The creator of that home was an engineer. The owners passed away quite a few years ago, and I don't know who has the home now. I think there were a lot of homes created on similar principles during the very early '70's, during that early environmental movement, but all built by individuals, and tucked away in corners of our ordinary residential neighbourhoods. It's a shame we don't know more about them. It would be wonderful if someone could locate such buildings and bring them to the attention of the public now, when we are all far more educated and aware of the issues of climate change. Historically, also, it would be interesting to research those efforts, as they are 50 years or more older now, and it would be interesting to know how well they have managed to achieve the builders' aims half a century later.

  • @mihiec
    @mihiec ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Enjoy this amazing 2023!!

  • @miangelsai
    @miangelsai ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Anything I say , it will not make honor to this place ... and Emmanuel , a very conscious man .. I am an architect and this makes me feel very happy to see péople who realy makes the best posible way to live in harmony with the envirnonment . I would love to be his neighbor.Thanks Kirsten .

  • @valerieann8007
    @valerieann8007 ปีที่แล้ว +90

    Many wonderful qualities, including being helpful to area wildlife -- I especially love things like steps out of the pond designed for the 2 frogs that visit the pond! The whole home is beautiful!😄❤

  • @jillmadigan9841
    @jillmadigan9841 ปีที่แล้ว +44

    This home displays many Permaculture principles, built on by great imagination, experience, and ingenuity. It's an evolving work of living art. Thank you, Kirsten and family!

    • @pauwelsemmanuel
      @pauwelsemmanuel 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      yes I have sourced a lot from the principles of permaculture which I believe are important when desinging anything that is place based. Thank you for your kind words.

  • @garrygballard8914
    @garrygballard8914 ปีที่แล้ว +60

    Thank you Kirsten for finding this and showing it to us. This is living within nature.👏👏👏 Bravo, Beautiful.

  • @rogerbmcdaniel
    @rogerbmcdaniel ปีที่แล้ว +29

    What an amazing place! I love the fact that the owners left the place "lived in", for the filming. Your videos continue to bring me joy. Thank you.

  • @judithbreastsler
    @judithbreastsler ปีที่แล้ว +35

    Probably the coolest high-concept ecohome I've seen to date.

  • @d-rot
    @d-rot ปีที่แล้ว +4

    "It's not about sq-meters, it's about the quality of the space." Bravo.

  • @bennerdan
    @bennerdan ปีที่แล้ว +2

    "It's not about square meters. It's about quality of space." That is one heck of a quote.

  • @canyonhaverfield2201
    @canyonhaverfield2201 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    All my adult years as a hippy living California coastal..messages would come over time regards to the nutrient value of 'our' urine..this mornings tidbit of urine talk arrived so timely..I was making brek, and as I took in this tour, & words expressed how both by products of our diet were gathered then later spread for nutrient values into the garden crops dirt..suddenly I felt the urge to pee..& without a moments hesitation I placed a cup beneath Mt apparatus to catch it..added a little blue agave..& thru it back..yet not carelessly, & not reluctantly. Instead my mind.was radiant with feelings of deep thanks & acknowledgment of the Circle of Life. 80 % of our diets nutrients go to producing our urine...maybe that its named Your-In is important...yet already Im imagining some readers seeing the viability of the translation being - your-out🎉 Thanks to our gracious deeply alive talented host Emmanuel Pauwel for this fascinating walk thru and for inspiring me so naturally.
    I raise my glass to his inspirations. Agree too regards to hammock loungers.
    they were the chair of choice for many houseboats off Tiburon back in the hey& kelp days of Marin Ca.. Along those lines..Tug my camper.truck experiences deep snug warmth this wet winter since reinstalling my TinyTot charcoal burner.

  • @missbee9140
    @missbee9140 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Your kids are really growing up!

  • @thinkplanetearth2946
    @thinkplanetearth2946 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    Beautiful location. Loved your drone shots. Really like his philosophy about being in harmony with nature as opposed to trying to force something to live a more modern lifestyle. And how very smart to wait a year before doing anything so that he could have an understanding of the airflow and sun positioning and then act accordingly.

  • @jennymauger
    @jennymauger ปีที่แล้ว +7

    What a treat!!! THANK YOU Original builders, Emmanuel Pauwels Family & Kirsten Family for the overall RECONNECTION 💓

  • @jackwest3282
    @jackwest3282 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I love the beautiful stone and masonry work as well as the wood work in the house and the beautiful clay walls of the house. The only thing more beautiful than the house is the heart this man shows towards the world around him. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful and beautiful video Kirsten!

  • @yvanapantino273
    @yvanapantino273 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    So very inspiring and yet most people are oblivious as to what can be done to reclaim old villages to live in a modern way.

  • @swoondrones
    @swoondrones 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    This is amazing! The full glass walls, living outside inside, is what architecture really should be. Those windows are extraordinary!

  • @SagaJohanna
    @SagaJohanna ปีที่แล้ว +8

    I love the organic pool, every pool should be like that - so incredible! Can't believe I didn't learn about this concept until I was 27!!!

  • @NeuroPulse
    @NeuroPulse ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This guy has certainly carved himself out a nice slice of heaven there.

  • @mariapottery
    @mariapottery ปีที่แล้ว +12

    It is amazing how he paying attention about things around himself, the nature etc..!

  • @MrOj53
    @MrOj53 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    Hi Kirsten! I have followed you and your family for a few years now, and I "LIKE" your work. Many times I have wondered how do you live yourself? Did I miss an episode? Happy New Year from Sweden

    • @Robert_Hermigua
      @Robert_Hermigua ปีที่แล้ว +3

      They live in or near Paris. They also have a house in Spain, which was shown in at least 2 videos.

  • @amyholman354
    @amyholman354 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I'd be happy with a bedroom looking down on the clouds and with stepping out on a balcony grazed by passing vultures and to go outside and swim with frogs. Thanks for this tour.

  • @UpUpDnDnLtRtLtRtBAStart
    @UpUpDnDnLtRtLtRtBAStart ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I love this channel. We learn so much about living and how we can live in harmony with the earth. - thank you Kirsten !

  • @yellowfrogcommunity
    @yellowfrogcommunity ปีที่แล้ว +16

    What a stunning home! All the details and love put into this place, so inspiring!

  • @ruslankizlaitis781
    @ruslankizlaitis781 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I very rarely remember anything. This time, I remembered almost everything). Thank you.

  • @holliequinton2616
    @holliequinton2616 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    This location is wonderful. The open concept and bringing outside in is excellent. I love how they recycle the water naturally and use the elements to heat and cool the house. Very educational and interesting. Thank you for all you do! I look forward to all of your videos.

  • @ValeriaVincentSancisi
    @ValeriaVincentSancisi ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Another Christopher Alexander reference .. I thought this design was very Pattern Language.... beautiful.. piece of art!

  • @indiracamotim2858
    @indiracamotim2858 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I am richer in my consciousness, just from seeing this video. I love everything about this house, indoors ans outdoors. Thank you 🪴🍀🌱🌿

  • @nembutsu1045
    @nembutsu1045 ปีที่แล้ว

    I learnt two things from this video: first observe the land and environment before building anything permanent and second use rounded corners almost everywhere, the lighting aspect and softer shadows makes so much sense

  • @azz2
    @azz2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Really like the live pool concept.

  • @carenburmeister5002
    @carenburmeister5002 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    This is a magnificent house! Emmanuel’s vision, ingenuity and artistry blows my mind.

  • @charlottewilliams7866
    @charlottewilliams7866 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    A Pattern Language! Sigh. I found my copy in a bag of crochet work a few days ago. Had been looking for it for months! Questioning myself if I had lent it to someone. Unlikely, as it is my necessary book when life is disturbing.
    Patterns of design and building that have worked for ages.
    Totally makes sense that he is aware of the book and those patterns.

  • @karenubungen3501
    @karenubungen3501 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    House in a mountain top has always the best views😄👍

  • @theuglykwan
    @theuglykwan ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The level of mindfulness they employed here is insane.

  • @odetakaniauskaite7862
    @odetakaniauskaite7862 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Kirsten, you and your husband have an amazing gift of transporting us to where ever you are! I really felt like i was in the Pyrenees mountains while watching this video.

  • @zedwolf1589
    @zedwolf1589 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    This is a very cool house, I'd have to say the way he designed it to be part of the earth and not against the earth. He's built a brilliant home.

  • @hikermanwa
    @hikermanwa ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Wow, this one is definitely in my top ten favorite places you’ve shown us

  • @delmar418
    @delmar418 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    This home is LUSCIOUS. It's warm and cozy like a small place with the expansive openness of the large. It doesn't compartmentalize. It has a soft quality to it from structure to colors. I've always known, yet forget how surrounded we are by gases and elements, radioactivity. So I wonder what it would be like to spend a few months away from all that to see how it affects me.

  • @missglenellen
    @missglenellen ปีที่แล้ว +3

    No words. Such a beautiful and respectful place. Thank you for sharing!

  • @philiq18
    @philiq18 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I'm a fan of natural swimming pools. It's a plus for natural surroundings.

  • @LTJC70
    @LTJC70 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    I really love this man's way of explaining things.,. Tadpoles cleaning your toes... Completing the circle of life, Beautiful,!!!!

  • @briangarrow448
    @briangarrow448 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    There are companies that build natural cleaning pools in Europe and North America. Lots of people don’t want a chlorinated pool.
    Incredible home and designer.

  • @lacasaintegralsccl
    @lacasaintegralsccl ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Well deserved titles for Emmanuel's home: Regenerative, Net-Positive, a platinum LEED certified home, the first project in Europe to be able to say it has accomplished criteria of the Living Building Challenge etc... Great topic for one of your videos Kirsten! Sorry to have missed you on this visit, thanks for sharing all these lovely places, projects and people in our area! Best wishes for you and your family in this New Year!

  • @mysticalmisty9772
    @mysticalmisty9772 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Absolutely love the quirky layout of the house the colours, the natural pool and the views are spectacular!

  • @nativetexson
    @nativetexson ปีที่แล้ว +2

    As a child, my parents took my siblings and I to Iceland on two separate occasions to visit family friends; once in the winter and the other in the summer. Experiencing the long days of darkness as well as the long days of light were like a fantasy. And we saw the northern lights... undescribable.

  • @davidlist7507
    @davidlist7507 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    What a beautiful artistic genius for sure and one of the best homes I have seen in a long while.

  • @elmarwolters2751
    @elmarwolters2751 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Fantastic

  • @allegrosotto2126
    @allegrosotto2126 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    One of my favorites, Thank you!

  • @dixiechicken2643
    @dixiechicken2643 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Once again, your family does such a great job of showing us how other people live, and how we can live too. Thank you for sharing with us, these wonderful places and their amazing views.

  • @annaharris1109
    @annaharris1109 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This way of thinking is so 'outside the box', it's amazing. Rain water runs through the house. Thank you, guys, for letting me to see that

  • @jtotheb-ip2hh
    @jtotheb-ip2hh ปีที่แล้ว

    "...we are so obsessed with square meters. it's not about square meters...it's about quality of space." well put.

  • @waylonk2453
    @waylonk2453 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    That is amazing! This video captured my attention unlike any of the wonderful ones I've seen so far. Truly wonderful setting, and the biological pool was next level.

  • @WhiteyKnuckles
    @WhiteyKnuckles ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Amazing. And everything has been carried up through the only street - which makes the result even more impressive.

  • @Zirboman
    @Zirboman ปีที่แล้ว +5

    this is paradise in my opinion.

  • @mihiec
    @mihiec ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Thanks for another amazing documentary!!!

  • @MotoM0nk
    @MotoM0nk ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Absolutely amazing, a lot of Yogic wisdom in building the house after watching sun, wind, etc and shapes, materials. I've no words

  • @joecutro7318
    @joecutro7318 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thanks, Kirsten. Your videos, the people and places they spotlight give me Faith in the Future. ☺️🌍🌎🌏☮

  • @truthbetold2611
    @truthbetold2611 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I love how philosophical people you interview are. They're builders of dreams and teachers of principles.

  • @lourdesmurilloquintana5123
    @lourdesmurilloquintana5123 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Brillant concept..living with and along side nature

  • @hithaishydhanan
    @hithaishydhanan ปีที่แล้ว +1

    "Its not about Sqaure Feet, Its about the Quality of Space" ....👌

  • @9sheri9
    @9sheri9 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Kirsten, your kids are going to grow up to be the most interesting & incredible adults. What a cool life! Thx for so much quality & meaningful content. 💕✌️

  • @trazcotraz2798
    @trazcotraz2798 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    It is one of the most inteligent, în partnership with nature, most beautifull through' its common-sense houses that I ever see.
    It is a GOOD work!

  • @gyorgyangelkottbocz9766
    @gyorgyangelkottbocz9766 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    by far the best and most well tought through project shown so far Kirsten! an eco-build with environmental adaptation and proper functionality where esthetics and modern architectural/construction expression s in harmony while respecting a heritage site and a historic building! it's a glowing example! as an eco architect and natural pool builder it makes me immensly happy that you show now that there's an alternative to all those sensory-deprived, uncomfortable pretentious minimalist "I only own my underwear" type projects often shown on your channel nowadays. thanks!! keep them coming!

  • @normanmerrill1241
    @normanmerrill1241 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Another incredible find…beautiful location…brilliant renovation…one of the best…thanks…

  • @paulwall5706
    @paulwall5706 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Love your Ytube Channel 🌅🌺🤗🙏👍👍

  • @Onionbaron
    @Onionbaron ปีที่แล้ว +1

    What a wonderful place and mentality!

  • @shelley6595
    @shelley6595 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    This is a wonderful house, and all the thought and planning that went into it. Very comfortable and charming.

  • @farmpite
    @farmpite ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Honestly a dream house, everything done right !

  • @the_str4ng3r
    @the_str4ng3r ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Beautiful views! Another great find, guys!

  • @mynestintheforest
    @mynestintheforest ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Those are my favourite subjects, creating a thriving home environment with natural materials and the wisdom of Earth|Sun. Thank you for sharing your gorgeous home with us. I call this perfection.

  • @ronsmith1364
    @ronsmith1364 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Spain seems to be the passive reuse sustainable global champ of housing. The rounded edges for soft lighting really gives that warm inviting atmosphere. Love the mobile hanging chairs too. Why have the big mattresses? All organic materials are an allergic persons dream. Arid climate + location mandate cistern water source & Why not? An aerie perch with the wildlife using your cliff for its thermals to glide by..The views oh man This is satisfying on so many levels. tfs

  • @kathleenomalley7838
    @kathleenomalley7838 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Most incredible "earthship" style home I've ever seen.

  • @lunabouch
    @lunabouch ปีที่แล้ว +1

    That is so wonderfully thoughtful. His enthusiasm and matter of fact reflects his mindfulness of his environment. Excellent

  • @unacomn
    @unacomn ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Absolutely fantastic home. A true goal to strive for.

  • @Jayapullani
    @Jayapullani ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Love this, it is so well thought out and has a lovely ambience about it with the natural clay interior walls.

  • @albertptran
    @albertptran ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Love his explanations and details about temperature, wind and how to position the house

  • @philipmarchalquizar7741
    @philipmarchalquizar7741 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I love your videos. I think you like Spanish and Italian landscapes, culture and houses. 👍❤️

  • @BrendaJMay
    @BrendaJMay ปีที่แล้ว +2

    BLESSED LIVING💯🤨🙏♥️🙏♥️🙏♥️🙏🤨😘

  • @chrisburton4128
    @chrisburton4128 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Best channel on TH-cam

  • @danielmiller8592
    @danielmiller8592 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Wow that's amazing. Thanks for all the videos inspiring me sooo much. I just love this channel and it's one of my dreams to know so much cool stuff like this guy did to build such a ingenious house 😍 amazing!!

  • @kerm1t2
    @kerm1t2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    true connection with earth and life

  • @shancre
    @shancre ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I really love your work. Please keep doing this kinda stuff

  • @marihannah6702
    @marihannah6702 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Wow! Impressive and beautiful!

  • @lesworks
    @lesworks ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Simply brilliant! Kudos!

  • @tinekejoldersma
    @tinekejoldersma ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Beautiful place, well built. Harmonic with all around it. Thanks for showing us, Kirsten.

  • @lonzo61
    @lonzo61 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    What a home, what a place. I would love to live there.

  • @mikeluit3027
    @mikeluit3027 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Some nice drone footage!

  • @Who.is.Clinton
    @Who.is.Clinton ปีที่แล้ว

    Just loved this video Kirsten, the invites and places you and your hubby go to...amazing journeys.

  • @ginalarsen4875
    @ginalarsen4875 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This place is stunning! Thank you for sharing.

  • @swingnigloo
    @swingnigloo ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Very inspiring! Thank you for another great video.

  • @mihiec
    @mihiec ปีที่แล้ว +2

    They are so lucky & smart to get this place!

  • @MsSherryjh
    @MsSherryjh ปีที่แล้ว +1

    What a wonderful home!!

  • @erickhian
    @erickhian ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Incredible how this people live in a so peaceful way. Awesome video!

  • @Gra1i1ude
    @Gra1i1ude ปีที่แล้ว

    Tranquil. So impressive. 25minutes flew by. Thank you 😌🕉

  • @anamaria2053
    @anamaria2053 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    What a thoughtful and exquisite home. ❤

  • @emargold
    @emargold ปีที่แล้ว +2

    this is incredible. the owners must be so proud =)