Here’s something you don’t see everyday – at least not in Calgary anyway!
I took this photo on a recent trip. Would you believe this home is over a hundred years old? In its day it would have been described as a roomy 2-story house on a lovely large corner lot. Perfect for a growing family and enough space for when the relatives come to visit!

What’s fascinating is that this home is still standing. It’s certainly a testament to the durability of structures built from earth or mud. In addition, it was built with very little in the way of equipment at the time.

In many parts of the world earth or mud has historically been relied on as a building material and this is particularly true for residential housing. Not only was it readily available, but it was strong, clean and had great insulation properties.

Although some countries used cement products for a while, building with earth became popular again as new techniques emerged. Using local materials is a cost-effective and sustainable way to meet housing needs. Today’s mud houses have a new esthetic appeal and are just as likely to stand the test of time.

In Canada it’s equally important for the home building industry to continuously develop affordable and resilient housing solutions. Trends are towards a diverse selection of options including modular buildings or homes that are built from shipping containers, for example. Some dwellings incorporate smart technology and others use more green technology or are even off the power grid entirely.

Like elsewhere in Canada, the Calgary climate requires a particular type of construction! On a cold winter night or hot summer day, we want homes that are comfortable as well as solidly-built. 
So while the title is a bit of an understatement, whether you’re looking for a new home or a fixer upper in the Calgary area, I invite you to take a look at the listings on my website.