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Our new home – Utopia estate – built on Ongos farm, Brakwater... totally off grid and completely home built!
It all started on 20 June 2018... when a bulldozer came to make the access road from the riverbed to the top of the hill where Lisa and I decided to build a big workshop, a cottage for granny and our own house. The first big job was to fence a small part of our 5 ha on a pretty rocky terrain. Amazingly, the workers managed to dig all the holes by hand but only one out of the 300 m fence!
Then the workshop building started on 2 August, followed by the gabion room on 11 October, room whole walls are made with rocks collected on the farm (23 trailers and bakkie loads) in wired cages. Two weeks after the slab over the gabion room was completed on 12 November, started the building of the cottage for Granny on 27 November. The main work of the cottage was done just before Xmas holiday. On our return from South Africa with a fully loaded trailer (the second one) on 13 January 2019, we were still living in the chinese lodge. Before the end of January, even before the interior of the cottage was completed, we decided to establish our very basic quarters in the gabion room. The main reason was to be closer to our dogs, Sheba & Zara! We finally moved into the cottage in early February... which was much more luxurious!
It was time to think about the main house... and the thinking did not take very long. On 12 March, a digger-loader arrived to dig the foundations. All foundations and slabs were done by hand as it was totally impossible for a cement truck to drive up the hill. It was the same for all thge deliveries by truck that had to be unloaded in the riverbed and brought up the hill by the bakkie-trailer. All the cement bags, sand, stone, sand, wood, steel, roof sheets...
On 19 August, we came back from South Africa with Granny. We helped Granny to move into her new cottage and we took our new quarters into our new home... which was not totally finished but good enough for camping with a roof above our head! The house was almost completed mid November. So it took about 8 months to build... quite a record!
workers pooring concrete slab in gabion room
cutting glass bottle
Licius workers building workshop foundation walls
Bernard workers paving bricks in front of workshop
bricklaying studio walls
Licius workers plastering studio walls & Donald installing roof sheets
aerial view of 4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
wooden perlines for roof standing on house wall
galvinized pipes for house scullery sheves
house pool with stone wall & prosopis wooden deck
workers erecting 300 m fence around plot
Donald & Sedney braking rocks for foundations of workshop & studio
Donald making steel frame for workshop foundations
Donald & Sedney filling gabion basket with stones
workers tiding steel bars on studio suspended slab over gabion room
feature with glass bottles and tyre in workshop wall
glass bottles waiting to be cut
Donald compacting workshop slab
Licius workers bricklaying workshop walls
Licius workers bricklaying workshop walls
Donald & Sedney installing solar panel on workshop roof from 4x4 truck
Licius workers bricklaying studio walls
styroblocks for house office ceiling slab
aerial view of 4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
workers fixing wooden perlines over osd boards on house roof
workers cutting prosopis at Manu sawmill
house kitchen countertops
house master bathroom smurf blue bathtub
galvinized pipes & prosopis wooden planks for house scullery sheves
house entrance light feature
Sheba & Zara dogs in front of house
Sedney leveling concrete base of steel frame for workshop foundations
trailer with 10000 l water tank driving up hill
second hand armchairs in gabion room
tyres at dump site
first attempt of heavy canvas framed with electrical conduits over Hugel garden
building material in river bed : stones, sand & bricks
Bernard workers paving bricks in front of workshop
Donald & Sedney installing solar panel on workshop roof from 4x4 truck
Licius workers building septic tank
Human truck & workers drilling borehole in riverbed
Human truck & workers drilling borehole in riverbed at sunset
Bernard workers levelling house office slab concrete
Donald tiding steel bars over styroblocks for house office ceiling slab
Bernard workers plastering house brick walls
antique indian wooden frame for house entance door
bassins over prosopis counters & tree on wall in house master bathroom
palette wood & tins sheves under world map in house entrance
Donald & Sedney laying fiberglass mesh on house pool walls
bulldozer making access road to plot
Donald loading stones for gabions in trailer
homemade glass bottle cutter
glass bottle feature in studio bathroom wall
Licius workers pooring concrete for workshop slab
Licius workers preparing workshop counters for concrete
building roof wooden trusses on studio plastered walls
Human truck & workers drilling borehole in riverbed
Donald watching digger loader excavating trenches for house foundation
Donald & Sedney offloading bricks from trailer
Bernard workers levelling house concrete floor
house kitchen island brick walls
aerial view of 4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
prosopis plancks at Manu sawmill
house kitchen countertops
house plant boxes with led lighting
house dining room sealed floors
installing internet 12 m tower on top of hill with 4x4 truck & farm workers
patterns on plastic sheet
best beer and hills turning green
african red-eye bulbul bird sitting on Paul's hand
digger loader excavating foundations for workshop & studio
glass bottle feature in guest 2 bedroom wall
team with grader rescuing 4x4 truck broken down on plot access road
Licius workers pooring concrete for workshop slab
Licius workers pooring concrete for workshop slab
Donald installing solar panel on workshop roof from 4x4 truck
wiring house electrical distribution board
Sedney sealing house roof wooden beams
Sedney & Rodney fixing IBR roof sheets over house roof insulation
house kitchen countertops with prosopis wooden shelves
wooden log for light fitting over house dining room
bassins over prosopis counters & tree on wall in house master bathroom
restauring wooden long chairs
wooden stairs down to house lounge & office
Donald & Sedney pooring concrete on house pool slab
aerial view of utopia estate
Donald & Sedney showing freshly painted sliding gate with Utopia board
workers erecting columns of workshop steel portal
ranger with trailer full of tyres at dump site
workers filling cement around glass bottles in tyre while building workshop wall
glass bottle feature in guest 2 mezzanine wall
team with grader rescuing 4x4 truck broken down on plot access road
painting steel frame for workshop doors
10 KW b-box lithium battery, 8 KW Vario Track charger & XTH-8000-48 Xtender inverter in solar room
Human truck & workers drilling borehole in riverbed
Bernard workers building house brick walls
Bernard workers building house kitchen island brick walls
worker sealing house roof wooden beams
wooden log for light fitting over house dining room
prosopis headboard & counter in house master bedroom
house entrance sealed floors
wooden stairs down to house lounge
workers erecting 300 m fence around plot
Rodney & Sedney moving 10000 l over fence
workers pooring concrete on studio suspended slab over gabion room
Donald & Sedney loading bricks into trailer
Licius workers building workshop foundation walls
Licius workers pooring concrete for workshop slab
Sedney rivetting roof sheet on workshop door steel frame
Donald installing solar panel on workshop roof from 4x4 truck
house office ceiling with hessian over styroblocks
Bernard workers levelling house concrete floor
4x4 Unimog truck bringing house roof wooden beams
Rodney & Sedney sealing house roof wooden beams
glass bottle feature in wall between house master bathroom & shower
mini rock waterfall over house master bathroom deep ocean blue bathtub
house lounge sealed floors
restauring wooden long chairs
technician connecting antenae on 12 m internet tower
Donald & Sedney building house pool brick walls
Donald & Sedney laying fiberglass mesh on house pool walls
deck with Sheba dog | green hills under stormy clouds
workers erecting workshop steel portal & bricklaying
glass bottles in tyre
feature with glass bottles and tyre in workshop wall
glass bottle feature in master bedroom wall
Licius workers pooring concrete for workshop slab
workshop sliding doors
painting workshop, gabion & studio doors
studio bedroom
Donald & Sedney watching digger loader excavating trenches for house foundation
Bernard workers building house foundation walls
house office stairs & plastered walls
sanded prosopis boards for house kitchen & bedroom
workers braking house kitchen countertops
MDF shelves & cupboards in house master bedroom
house office sealed floors
africa maps over wired landy in house entrance
technician connecting antenae on 12 m internet tower
green hills from deck
xxx lizard
Donald & Sedney replacing teeth on digger loader
Donald & Sedney levelling concrete for base for water tanks
workers & crane truck erecting workshop steel portal
Donald & Sedney filling gabion basket with stones
cutting glass bottle
Donald cleaning stones on studio pathways
Donald watching digger loader excavating trenches for house foundation
Bernard workers levelling house floors
Sedney fixing house office ceiling with hessian over styroblocks
Bernard workers building house brick walls
house office stairs & plastered walls
house kitchen countertops with prosopis wooden shelves, tiles, stove & oven
house master bathroom bricks & plastered bathtub
house lounge prosopis base for corner sofa
mosquito sheet for house master bedroom
prosopis house pool deck & stairs
Sheba & Zara dogs laying on long chairs near splash pool
workers loading 10000 l water tank on trailer
worker filling top gabion baskets with stones before suspended slab
Licius inspecting workers tiding steel bars on studio suspended slab over gabion room
Licius workers bricklaying workshop walls
Donald & Sedney compacting area in fron of workshop
Human truck & workers cleaning borehole in riverbed and adding casing
Bernard workers plastering house brick walls
Donald laying electrical wires in conduits under house floor
workers installing osd boards over house roof wooden beams
house kitchen countertops
MDF shelves & cupboards in house master bedroom
jacuzzi pipes in house master bathroom bathtub
house master bedroom prosopis hanging sliding door
house dining room sealed floors
mokoro with succulant plants on house deck
installing internet 12 m tower on top of hill with 4x4 truck & farm workers
house pool pump & filter
bulldozer making access road to plot
bulldozer making access road to plot
workers erecting 300 m fence around plot
300 m fence around plot
spray painting sliding gate
digger loader excavating foundations for workshop & studio
Donald & Sedney braking rocks for foundations of workshop & studio
workers carrying 5000 l water tank
ranger with trailer with 10000 l water tank driving up hill
workers & crane truck erecting workshop steel portal
Donald & Sedney making gabion basket
steel bars on studio suspended slab over gabion room
Lisa loading wooden branches for Hugel garden in ranger
Lisa & Donald laying wooden branches in Hugel garden boxes
young trees in pots on deck
Licius workers bricklaying workshop walls
workshop
building dry walls in studio with Lisa with Sheba & Zara
Donald & Sedney compacting studio deck
Human worker sampling gravel from borehole drilled in riverbed
Lisa watching digger loader excavating trenches for house foundation
Donald, Paul & Sedney measuring level in excavated trenches for house foundation
Donald & Sedney levelling house office slab & Bernard workers building founation walls
styroblocks for house office ceiling slab
building house brick walls
4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
aerial view of 4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
copper pipe led lighting over house kitchen countertops
Lisa, Rodney & Sedney painting walls in house master bedroom-bathroom
house master bathroom plastered bathtub
Lisa's house office desk made of steel & prosopis boards
installing internet 12 m tower on top of hill with 4x4 truck & farm workers
Donald & Sedney laying fiberglass mesh on house pool walls
dead bat
Sheba & Zara dogs on terrasse
rowing machine
Sheeba & Zara dogs wet after swimming in river
preparing access road to plot
bulldozer making access road to plot
bulldozer making access road to plot
worker showing tabacco bag with strong advertising
workers erecting 300 m fence around plot
300 m fence around plot
Donald & Sedney braking rocks for foundations of workshop & studio
Sedney moving 10000 l over fence
workers erecting columns of workshop steel portal
workshop steel portal with roof sheets
Sedney preparing steel for gabion room columns to support studio
Paul loading stones for gabion in ranger
tyres at dump site
workers filling cement around glass bottles in tyre while building workshop wall
glass bottles waiting to be cut
Anne & Paul building Hugel garden boxes with prosopis plancks
seeds for Hugel garden
Lisa watching Sedney removing 5 T cement bags from 4x4 truck broken down on plot access road
truck with crane dropping bricks in river bed
Paul fixing roof sheets above solar & workshop toilet
bricklaying studio walls
granny plaing scrabble on terasse
Human truck & bakkie drilling borehole in riverbed
Zara dog in excavated trenches for house foundation
ladder going up house guest 2 mezzanine
aerial view of 4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
aerial view of 4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
Paul's house office desk made of steel & prosopis boards
installing internet 12 m tower on top of hill with 4x4 truck & farm workers
emperor moth
Sheba & Zara dogs
green grass & bushes
splash pool
first visit at Ongos - view from top of hill
preparing access road to plot
bulldozer making access road to plot
bulldozer making access road to plot
workers erecting 300 m fence around plot
digger loader excavating foundations for workshop & studio
Paul making steel frame for workshop foundations
workers erecting columns of workshop steel portal
Donald preparing steel for gabion room columns to support studio
gabion room with basket filled with stones
Sedney filling gabion basket with stones
Donald & Sedney throwing stones to Paul & Lisa on gabion room suspended slab
glass bottles waiting to be cut
Paul holding 4x4 truck broken down on plot access road
workshop sliding doors
solar panel on workshop roof
Bernard workers building house foundation walls
Bernard workers building house brick walls
house guest 2 mezzanine
wiring house electrical distribution board
4x4 Unimog truck bringing house roof wooden beams
aerial view of 4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
Lisa & Sedney sealing house roof wooden beams
Lisa checking Sedney & Rodney laying insulation over house roof
house kitchen countertops
house entrance plastered walls
Paul building mini rock waterfall over house master bathroom bathtub
house scullery countertop recut for washing machine
Paul's house office desk made of steel & prosopis boards : detail on rust
Doanld laying steel bars for house pool foundations
thirsty bees
monitor lizard
patterns on plastic sheet
Sheba & Zara dogs
black wasp bringing caterpillar as food into nest
Sheeba & Zara dogs wet after swimming in river
fire at Ongos
bush snake
preparing access road to plot
bulldozer making access road to plot
dogs near welding table
steel/wooden sliding gate
Paul carving Utopia name on wood for sliding gate
Donald & Sedney braking rocks & digger loader excavating foundations for workshop & studio
oncrete & steel frames for workshop foundations
workers off loading 10000 l water tank from truck
workers erecting columns of workshop steel portal
workers & crane truck erecting workshop steel portal
wooden boxes for concrete ring above gabion room
Licius inspecting workers tiding steel bars on studio suspended slab over gabion room
Lisa collecting wood for Hugel garden
Paul watering Hugel garden boxes filled with wooden branches & chips
passion fruit plants growing on gabion wall next to 2500 l rain tank
Donald & Sedney pooring concrete next to workshop slab
solar panel on workshop roof
Donald building roof over studio deck
granny studio
building septic tank
Bernard workers pooring concrete for house foundations
Bernard workers building house office walls with Sheba dog
aerial view of 4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
house roof wooden beams
wooden log for light fitting over house dining room
utopia main house
gecko eating insect
Sheba & Zara dogs in ranger
thorns harvest from shoes
natural pool
xmas decorations
preparing access road to plot
bulldozer making access road to plot
bulldozer making access road to plot
bulldozer making access road to plot
pole fence around plot
workers erecting 300 m fence around plot
workers erecting 300 m fence around plot
welding steel sliding gate
Utopia name carved on wood for sliding gate
Donald making steel frame for workshop foundations
Donald & Sedney offloading stones for gabions from trailer
gabion room with basket filled with stones
Licius inspecting workers mixing concrete for studio suspended slab over gabion room
workers pooring concrete on studio suspended slab over gabion room
Donald, Lisa & Sedney watering Hugel garden boxes filled with wooden branches & chips
building material in river bed : bricks
Licius workers building workshop foundation walls
Donald & Sedney welding steel frame for workshop doors
brick paved area in front of workshop
bricklaying studio walls
Paul building roof over studio deck
granny studio
Human truck & workers drilling borehole in riverbed at sunset
digger loader excavating trenches for house foundation
Donald & Sedney measuring level in excavated trenches for house foundation
Bernard workers pooring concrete for house foundations
Lisa looking at steps along house guest bathroom
Bernard workers building house brick walls
4x4 Unimog truck bringing house roof wooden beams
aerial view of 4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
aerial view of 4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
aerial view of 4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
prosopis plancks at Manu sawmill
house plant boxes with led lighting
gecko eating insect
agama lizard
Sheba & Zara dogs
cisor beetle
natural pool
splash pool
trees slowly turning green
bedroom cupboards plans drawn on walls
preparing access road to plot
bulldozer making access road to plot
bulldozer making access road to plot
flat ground for building workshop & studio
workers erecting 300 m fence around plot
Paul spray painting sliding gate
worker replacing teeth on digger loader
Donald & Sedney braking rocks for foundations of workshop & studio
Donald making steel frame for workshop foundations
oncrete & steel frames for workshop foundations
ranger with trailer & workers with 10000 l water tank
workers & crane truck erecting workshop steel portal
steel for gabion room columns to support studio
stones in gabion basket
workers levelling concrete on studio suspended slab over gabion room
Hugel garden boxes with prosopis plancks
Licius workers pooring concrete for workshop slab
Licius workers pooring concrete for workshop slab
Paul soldering gutter elbow
Donald & Sedney installing solar panel on workshop roof from 4x4 truck
studio plastered walls
Donald & Sedney painting dry walls in studio
Donald, Paul & Sedney building roof over studio deck
granny studio
Human truck & workers drilling borehole in riverbed
Bernard workers levelling house concrete floor
Bernard workers building house brick walls
wood form for concrete for house kitchen island & counters
aerial view of 4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
aerial view of 4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
Paul watching Rodney cleaning roof wooden beams
technician connecting antenae on 12 m internet tower
Sedney building waterhole
Donald & Sedney building house pool brick walls
baby gecko on Paul's hand
Lisa with Sheba & Zara dogs along flowing river
tomatoe from garden
Utopia house
trees turning green on hill
Granny's xmas trees
stick insect head
bulldozer making access road to plot
bulldozer making access road to plot
workers erecting 300 m fence around plot
digger loader excavating foundations for workshop & studio
Donald & Sedney braking rocks & digger loader excavating foundations for workshop & studio
oncrete & steel frames for workshop foundations
Donald filling top gabion baskets with stones before suspended slab
workers levelling concrete on studio suspended slab over gabion room
cutting glass bottle
Paul laying wooden branches in Hugel garden boxes
adding ashes on top in Hugel garden boxes
Licius workers pooring concrete for workshop slab
Paul connecting plumbing under workshop sink
studio plastered walls
Paul installing double sink and gas stove on studio kitchen counter
Donald & Sedney building roof over studio deck
granny studio
Donald & Sedney watching digger loader excavating trenches for house foundation
Paul & Sedney measuring level in excavated trenches for house foundation
Sheba & Zara dogs laying next to house brick walls
Bernard workers building house brick walls
aerial view of 4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
aerial view of 4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
Lisa on ladder sealing roof wooden beams
Paul selecting prosopis plancks with Manu & Nicole
Lisa tiling over house kitchen countertops
chips & bear
Lisa with Sheba & Zara dogs along flowing river
Sheba & Zara dogs running along river
green trees & grass on hills
bird feeder in tree
african red-eye bulbul bird sitting on Paul's hand
fire at Ongos
bulldozer making access road to plot
Donald & Sedney repairing access road to plot
300 m fence around plot
Paul welding steel sliding gate
Rodney & Sedney moving 10000 l over fence
workers & crane truck erecting workshop steel portal
steel for gabion room columns to support studio | Donald & Sedney
Lisa loading stones for gabion in ranger
workers pooring concrete slab in gabion room
Anne, Lisa, Marlerne & workers offloading stones for gabion from ttrailer
worker filling top gabion baskets with stones before suspended slab
team with grader rescuing 4x4 truck broken down on plot access road
Sedney filling foam in expansion groove
Licius workers bricklaying workshop walls
Licius workers bricklaying workshop walls
bricklaying studio walls
Human worker sampling gravel from borehole drilled in riverbed
excavated trenches & house office walls
Bernard workers building house brick walls
Bernard workers levelling house concrete floor
Lisa inspecting house plastered brick walls
4x4 Unimog truck bringing house roof wooden beams
4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
workers cleaning house roof wooden beams
house kitchen countertops with prosopis wooden shelves, tiles, stove & oven
Paul & Anne making mosquito sheet for house master bedroom
Donald & Sedney laying fiberglass mesh on house pool walls
bat in Paul's hands
trailer packed in garage
Zara dog with pullover
green caterpillars
ranger in front of flowing river
Sheba & Zara dogs laying on long chairs near splash pool
Lisa with Sheba & Zara dogs next to beehive
fire at Ongos
preparing access road to plot
spray painting sliding gate
oncrete & steel frames for workshop foundations
oncrete & steel frames for workshop foundations
workshop steel portal
workers pooring concrete slab in gabion room
gabion room with basket filled with stones
workers pooring concrete on studio suspended slab over gabion room
Donald & Sedney compacting area in fron of workshop
bricklaying studio walls
granny studio
Human truck & workers cleaning borehole in riverbed and adding casing
Lisa inspecting house plastered brick walls
aerial view of 4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
aerial view of 4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
4x4 Unimog with crane installing house roof wooden beams
installing osd boards over house roof wooden beams
Sheba & Zara dogs laying on house deck with mokoro
installing internet 12 m tower on top of hill with 4x4 truck & farm workers
ranger with trailer fully loaded in drieway
unpacking in gabion room
Sheba & Zara dogs
cooking green caterpillars
relealing tadpoles in pool
bulldozer making access road to plot
damage on access road to plot
300 m fence around plot
