Ecological Analysis

The pivotal requirements that are to be met by ecologically sustainable architecture are: low tech, loose fit, and long life. "Low tech" implies that the materials and methods used in the construction and maintenance of the home are not dependent upon technologies that are inaccessible for most of the world's population. Loose fit means that the structure can accommodate more than only the primary use that it was originally intended for, as it might be called upon to serve other needs in the future. Long life, quite simply, means just that: that it will withstand the passage of time, conventional wear-and-tear, and the fury of the elements. Top to bottom, (or rather, since it is a bungalow, side to side), the Potters' Earthship is a paragon of sustainable architecture. It was co-designed by its occupants, in response to their personal needs, it was not awkwardly imposed on them and their needs. It was designed with allowances for modularity, acknowledging that the uses of the different areas of the house will evolve over time. It was built in large part by the Potters themselves, meaning that they understand its systems better than anyone else, and will not have to rely on anybody else for aid if repairs prove to be necessary. It was built at a fraction of the cost of standard housing, and it is maintained at a fraction of the cost of standard housing, meaning that it is accessible to people with even a very modest budget.

The Potter House does away with materials that would otherwise be a burden to society, and rehabilitates them by incorporating them into their habitat. It recycles its own so-called waste materials, transforming them into resources, instead of creating even more burdens for society. It harnesses the infatiguable power of the sun, instead of taxing already over-pillaged non-renewable sources to meet its energy needs. It efficiently processes the resources that it does use, in order to minimize their consumption. The house allows for the easy growing of foodstuffs fit for human consumption, emancipating the Potters by allowing them to operate outside of the restrictions of the capitalist economy. The Potters' Home fulfills all of the criteria of sustainable architecture, and, in fact exceeds them, pushing the envelope, raising the bar, showing us what type of healthy homes are possible, taking eco-architecture to the next level. In short, one would be hard-pressed to find a single domestic dwelling in the country that lives up to the standards that the Potters have set in terms of ecological sustainability in architecture.