{"id":17751,"date":"2014-07-15T14:49:48","date_gmt":"2014-07-15T20:49:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress-367309-1145705.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=17751"},"modified":"2014-07-15T15:47:03","modified_gmt":"2014-07-15T21:47:03","slug":"bus-house-ultimate-act-upcycling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/articles\/bus-house-ultimate-act-upcycling\/","title":{"rendered":"The Bus House: the Ultimate Act of Upcycling?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"aubergine<\/a>
Image Credit: Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As I’ve heard from numerous builders in recent years, “green building” has largely just become “building”: incorporating efficiency features<\/a>, renewable energy systems, and natural lighting and air flow elements\u00a0just make sense. But if you were to watch the building of a green home, it probably doesn’t look a whole different from most new construction. That’s one of the reasons I love checking out tiny houses online, or even making a trip up to Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage: these folks are often taking things that already exist, and converting them – or, if you prefer, upcycling them – into living spaces. And one of my favorite forms of this kind of reuse: the bus house.<\/p>\n

Yep, buses make a lot of sense for living space, as they’re already structurally sound shelters… just ones also designed to move. If you decided to take on such a project, you may want to maintain the bus’ mobility, or you may want to remain stationary. Either way, you’re a long way towards a viable living space with walls, windows, and roof already in place.<\/p>\n

Thinking about a bus conversion? If you’re not, you will be after checking out these examples of bus houses from around the world.<\/p>\n

Upcycling a Bus into a Home: 8 Examples of the Bus House<\/h3>\n

Aubergine – a stationary bus house at Dancing Rabbit:\u00a0<\/strong>my first live experience with a bus house took place at Dancing Rabbit. Aubergine (pictured above) was the initial creation of Rabbit Liat, who moved, stripped, and repurposed the abandoned bus. From my tour, I remember an earth berm on the north side, a greenhouse on the south, and lots and lots of sheep’s wool insulation. The one downside: you wouldn’t have to be particularly tall for this set-up to be uncomfortable.<\/p>\n

The Bus House through an Architect’s Eye:<\/strong> Hank Butita needed a final project for his Masters of Architecture program… fast. So, he bought a bus. He and his grandfather had discussed the idea of building a cabin out of a bus for a piece of land the elder Butita owned, and Hank decided to make that kind of project his thesis. With a director who was willing to go along, Hank designed and outfitted the bus in a semester… and than took a 5000-mile trip to see how well his design actually worked. You can read all about the bus and the trip on his website Hank Bought a Bus<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"hank<\/a>
The interior of Hank’s bus house. Photo credit: Justin Evidon<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Double-Decker:<\/strong> Just as a double-decker bus can transport a lot more people at one time, a double-decker bus house can shelter a larger family… or, at least, give the family more room to move. And that room comes much cheaper than in a conventional house, as British couple Daniel and Stacy Bond discovered. Check out their two-tiered bus house, and their story, in the video below (via Mail Online<\/a>)<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GX2mWi3CG2o]<\/p>\n

The Bus as “Blank Canvas” for a Home:<\/strong> Richard and Rachel (no last name given) treated the school bus he bought for $3000 as a “blank canvas” to create a life and a lifestyle. With a solar array, very efficient appliances, and composting toilet (so far, anyway), the May Blue Bus costs the couple about $100 a month to run… and they’re also mortgage-free (which, of course, means they have to save up for further renovations). Learn more about the project in the 18 minute video below (via faircompanies.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n