In Norway’s remote far north, where the wind can rattle walls and the winter light is fleeting, Kjetil Ingvar Berge has built a home that forces him to step outside—literally.

The artist, drawn to the idea of simple living, purchased an abandoned 100-year-old kit home for the astonishingly low price of 150,000 Norwegian Krone (about $13,500). Originally shipped in pieces and assembled on-site—a necessity in this Arctic region where lumber was scarce—the home had fallen into disrepair, its walls weathered by time and neglect. The only toilet was in the barn.

Rather than retrofitting the past, Berge embraced it. Instead of expanding the old wooden home, he erected a modern, tin-clad tower next door, linked to the original farmhouse by an outdoor bridge. The passageway—open to the elements—ensures that even the shortest journey becomes a brush with nature, much like his former walks to the barn.

Neighbors were skeptical. One assumed he’d soon enclose the bridge for warmth. A decade later, it remains exposed, a commitment to experiencing the landscape in all its moods. “It forces you to notice,” Berge says. Eagles soar overhead, storms shake the timbers, and every trip between the two structures is a reminder of place.

His new addition, inspired by the region’s kit homes, preserves the character of the original dwelling while adapting to modern life. Clad in repurposed tin roofing material and built with salvaged elements, Berge’s home is a study in restraint—where space is a privilege, not a given.

Join us as we step inside Kjetil Ingvar Berge’s uniquely bridged home, where architecture meets philosophy in the Arctic wild.

https://www.instagram.com/kjetilingvar

On *faircompanies: https://faircompanies.com/videos/artist-bridges-inexpensive-kit-homes-in-scandinavias-far-north/

When Kristie Wolfe first saw the ship-shaped home—half of it slipping into a small Salmon, Idaho lake—she knew anyone else would knock it down, but she couldn’t let that happen.

Someone had built this fantastical house in the 1960s, seemingly just for fun, long before social media turned whimsical builds into viral sensations (like Kristie's hobbit home, potato hotel, and fire lookouts).

Five years ago, she began her rescue mission, hauling lumber from the water, shoring up the structure, and bringing the shipwreck back to life. Each floor steps down the hillside, creating voids underneath—spaces Kristie has turned into hidden rooms, unexpected corners that make the house feel like something out of a storybook.

Now, the transformation is full of hidden magic: a secret subterranean room, concealed beneath furniture and a once-crumbling storage shed reborn as an ornate Captain’s Quarters straight out of Beauty and the Beast.

[See hidden treasure room @10:49]

After our first video with Kristie, the original owners reached out. She learned the man who built it worked at the local lumber yard, handpicking the best wood for his passion project. Now, decades later, Kristie has salvaged those very boards, repurposing them into her own version of a nautical dream home. What was once a wreck is now a floating fairy tale—rescued not just from collapse, but from being forgotten.

Kristie Wolfe's DIY Shipwreck Home in remote Idaho is a world—and a work—of wonder. If any home can inspire fantasy adventures, from Peter Pan to The Count of Monte Cristo, this is it.

[Watch our shipwreck house video from 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcovbvpRdr4]
https://www.kristiewolfe.com/
https://www.instagram.com/kristiemaewolfe/
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/965938308454239046

On *faircompanies: https://faircompanies.com/videos/got-abandoned-house-falling-into-lake-her-2-year-fairy-tale-rescue-is-magical-%f0%9f%a7%9a%f0%9f%8f%bb/

In Southern California, where wildfires and housing shortages displaced countless residents, alternative living options like RVs and vans are more than a trend—they’re a lifeline.

TIMELINE:
—0:05 Wildfires in California: how some homeowners live on RVs while they rebuild after fire. Our friend Johnny Sanphillippo explains.
—1:07 In Los Angeles, UCLA Med Student Ethan Liebross explains his experience living on his dorm-on-wheels during the recent fires.
—7:45 We visit the Benders (SuChin Pak and Mike Bender) in their Santa Barbara home; due to Mike's Lyme disease complications, they decided to build a house and a campervan that are "quiet" (toxin-free, radiation-free, and fire-ready thanks to HEPA air purifiers).

[Watch our previous video with Ethan Liebross, "L.A. med student turns small van into ideal dorm on wheels, $14K total" 👉 https://youtu.be/bXhL7q1XbAc?si=StNmQFSY3G8qJQ42]

For some, it’s a stopgap after losing a home. For others, it’s a lifestyle choice offering offering mobility and independence in uncertain times.

We revisit UCLA medical student Ethan Liebross, now in his second year of medical school and still loving van life. Not only has it helped him avoid taking out as many loans compared to dorm living, but it also fits his preference for simplicity and flexibility. This year, as he travels to different hospitals for rotations, Ethan parks near each one, avoiding hours-long commutes and embracing the freedom of his mobile setup.

We also meet writer Mike Bender, who built a toxin-free "Quiet Van" to support his health needs. Extending principles he applied to creating a “Quiet Home,” Mike designed his van to prioritize clean materials and air, proving that van life can be both functional and deeply personal.

This video explores how van life isn’t just a way to survive — it’s a way to reimagine home and community in the face of environmental and personal challenges.

—Mike Bender: https://www.instagram.com/iammikebender
—Quiet House article on Men's Health magazine: https://www.menshealth.com/trending-news/a39049886/mystery-illness-lyme-disease-emf-essay/
—Atlas Vans: https://atlasvans.com
—Optimal Dwelling Spaces: https://www.optimaldwellingspaces.com
—Safecoat paint: https://afmsafecoat.com
—Havelock Wool: https://havelockwool.com/
—Van Window Covers: https://moohah.com/
—Cali Flooring: https://www.califloors.com
—Regarding the increase in airborne toxic chemicals, SoCal. Article for those interested: "Airborne Lead and Chlorine Levels Soared as L.A. Wildfires Raged: The findings give new insight into the dangers of urban wildfires that burn plastics and other chemicals in homes and property": https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/20/climate/los-angeles-wildfires-lead-chlorine-air-quality.html

On *faircompanies: https://faircompanies.com/videos/van-beats-home-2-best-socal-stealth-van-conversions-fire-ready/

We’ve been following the journey of Cover, a Los Angeles-based prefab home builder, almost since their inception a decade ago.

Their goal has always been ambitious: to rethink how homes are built by combining precision engineering, factory production, and modern design.

Over the years, we’ve watched them refine their approach, focusing first on accessory dwelling units (ADUs) that could be quickly and efficiently added to backyards.

In the wake of recent fires that destroyed thousands of homes across Los Angeles, Cover is shifting gears. For the first time, they are offering single-family homes to help the city rebuild. Their system, which uses factory-built panels designed to fit together like life-sized blocks, allows them to construct homes faster than traditional methods while maintaining high standards for safety and durability.

What used to take them 120 days to install now takes just three weeks—a dramatic reduction in build time that could make a significant difference in getting people back into homes quickly.

The fires have tested the resilience of their designs in real-world conditions. We returned to visit Chris Buchanan, whose family added a Cover ADU for his mother-in-law—a build we filmed a few years ago. The structure survived the fire unscathed, and Buchanan shared how the experience reinforced his faith in Cover’s approach to housing.

Cover’s decision to waive custom design fees for those impacted by the fires reflects a broader shift toward making prefab housing part of the solution to the challenges facing Los Angeles: from rebuilding after disasters to addressing the city’s ongoing housing crisis.

We’ve seen firsthand how they’re attempting to streamline the building process—from design to permitting to construction—and it’s a model that could hold promise for communities well beyond Southern California.

—Cover rebuild: https://buildcover.com/rebuild
—Our first video with Cover: https://youtu.be/fSwY46YNqjM?si=iW80eDZ0i2LguMrZ
—Visit with us the Buchanan's Cover granny ADU: https://youtu.be/o23oTURCbEw?si=YpJpKcUQYZtettom

On *faircompanies: https://faircompanies.com/videos/startup-aims-to-speed-up-housing-with-faster-sturdier-prefab-homes/

Thirty years ago, a group of permaculture experts purchased 329 acres of degraded land in Western North Carolina with a vision: to restore the landscape while creating a new model of communal living.

What began as an experiment in living well off the land has grown into one of the nation’s oldest cohousing communities, where residents live collaboratively and in close connection with their environment.

The community now spans 13 distinct neighborhoods with over 100 residents, each offering a different approach to shared living. Some neighborhoods function as housing co-ops (North Carolina law requires at least five members for this designation), while others feature apartments, duplexes, or single-family homes.

Earthaven’s infrastructure reflects decades of experimentation and ingenuity. From hydroelectric power generated by mountain streams to solar systems energizing both communal and private spaces, the village is a model of thoughtful design.

Residents live in hand-built homes that range from timber-framed duplexes to snug cob cottages, sharing resources like kitchens, workshops, and gardens. Guided by principles of self-governance, consensus decision-making, and cooperative ownership, Earthaven fosters deep connections—not only with the natural world but also among its members, creating a way of life rooted in resilience and shared purpose.

Recently, Earthaven suffered significant damage from Hurricane Idalia, which tore through the region, leaving many homes and shared facilities in need of repair. The community is currently rebuilding and has launched a fundraising campaign to restore its infrastructure and continue its mission of regenerative living.

—Donate to Earthaven's Hurricane Helene recovery fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/earthaven-recovery
—Take a Virtual Tour: https://www.schoolofintegratedliving.org/virtual-ecovillage-tours/
—Become a Friend: https://www.schoolofintegratedliving.org/donate/
—Take a class with the School of Integrated Living: https://www.schoolofintegratedliving.org/
—More videos: https://www.youtube.com/@earthavenecovillage
—Earthaven on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthaven_Ecovillage

On *faircompanies: https://faircompanies.com/videos/how-entire-village-runs-fully-off-grid-on-small-hydro-solar/

To help their kids afford housing in the Vancouver area, John and Kathleen Higgins demolished their family home of three decades to build 4 homes on the same lot for their kids, grandkids, and 94-year-old great-grannie.

In 1988, John and Kathleen Higgins bought a modest 1,300-square-foot rancher on a cul-de-sac in Delta, British Columbia, where they raised their seven children. Convinced that the typical 66-foot suburban lot was a waste of land, they began dreaming up alternatives, envisioning smaller homes clustered together to maximize space and community.

After years of pitching the idea to neighbors and local officials, the couple finally gained unanimous approval from the city in 2016 to demolish their old home and replace it with two duplexes—four homes in total—each with its own land title.

The new homes, two at 830 square feet and two at 1,150 square feet, provide a fresh start for the entire family. John and Kathleen now live in one unit, staying rooted in the neighborhood they’ve loved for decades.

Their sons, James and Patrick, each own a unit, a lifeline in a region where homeownership often feels out of reach. The fourth unit belongs to their daughter, who rents it to her 94-year-old grandmother, now surrounded by two great-grandchildren and one more on the way.

https://www.instagram.com/mysmallerhouse
John Higgins (architect) [email protected]
Thanks to Patrick Higgins for additional footage: Higginsfilm.com
https://www.instagram.com/higginsfilm/

On *faircompanies: https://faircompanies.com/videos/4-generations-4-homes-1-lot-vancouver-family-builds-own-private-neighborhood/

Franciska Eliassen built an underground earth home inspired by traditional Norwegian sod huts to live simply and sustainably from what the land could offer.

Using salvaged materials—driftwood, discarded planks, and secondhand windows—she spent only a couple of hundred dollars on hardware and waterproofing to create her unique home.

Her journey toward self-sufficiency began in 2017 on a small hill on an island in Northern Norway. Seeking freedom and solitude, she moved out of a conventional home and into a tent, where she reveled in waking to birdsong and the sound of rain on canvas.

However, the tent was neither warm nor permanent. Inspired by the traditional Sámi turf huts, known as "gamme," she decided to build her own. After weeks of wandering the landscape, foraging berries, and eating crackers, she found the perfect location—protected from the wind yet open to sunlight—and began construction with the landowner's permission.

Building the gamme became a race against time as Arctic frost threatened to solidify the ground before her work was done. Franciska labored tirelessly, often under the midnight sun, hauling materials up the hill and shaping them into a structure with the help of friends and fellow students.

By November, just as the frost set in, she completed the sod walls and roof and moved into her new home. Insulated by earth and warmed by a $10 secondhand stove, the gamme kept her cozy through harsh Arctic winters, even allowing her to walk barefoot inside.

For a year and a half, Franciska lived in her gamme, relying on foraging, wild harvesting, and dumpster diving for sustenance. She planted herbs and berries on the sod roof and even managed to grow an apple tree that bore fruit despite the northern latitude. Her days were filled with simple pleasures: skating on frozen lakes, bathing in the snow, and marveling at the Northern Lights. The gamme became more than just a shelter—it symbolized freedom, resilience, and harmony with nature.

Today, Franciska leads a nomadic life, hitchhiking on sailboats across the Atlantic and traveling through Central and South America. Yet, she still considers the gamme her true home, a testament to her belief in living untethered from societal expectations.

Her hut stands as proof that it’s possible to live lightly on the planet, reclaim a piece of land, and rediscover the beauty of a simple life. Since Franciska was abroad during our visit, her friend Henrik, who has converted a WWII bunker into a hut on a nearby hill, guided us through the Gamme.

Related video: Watch Henrik's converted WWII Bunker 👉 https://youtu.be/FRlEWlgLmzU

Gamme: https://gammen.cargo.site/
Franciska's feature film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvqWIDmD3jk
Construction video credit: Peter Gupta, Henrik Lande Andersen

On *faircompanies: https://faircompanies.com/videos/she-built-underground-cabin-in-remote-arctic-as-cozy-stealth-home-full-tour/

Twenty-two years ago, a group of friends bought a very affordable cornfield in rural Denmark and set out to build homes that were both debt-free and waste-free.

What began as a bold experiment with 13 families soon transformed the land into the eco-village of Friland (which means "Freeland"), a tight-knit community committed to back-to-basics living.

The homes were constructed with natural and recyclable materials like straw bales, seashells, sawdust, and sod roofs, reflecting the community’s deep respect for the environment.

Today, Friland is home to 45 families and has become a beacon of cooperative, low-impact living. At the core of Friland’s philosophy is the principle that residents cannot take on mortgages to build their homes, meaning they must save enough money in advance. Many begin by living in campers, while most build their homes slowly and by hand, prioritizing self-reliance and resourcefulness.

Steen Møller, one of the village’s founders, has turned his home's waste into resources. A trained farmer, Møller designed and built a thermal mass heater that heats his 75-square-meter home using minimal wood and then he captures the stove's exhaust pipes it into a buried greenhouse where he grows lettuce during the winter (even when there's snow on the ground).

Møller also captures his household's greywater, piping it beneath his home’s greenhouse, where it’s stored in a bladder filled with mussel shells that filter the water and provide nutrients to a very abundant fruit and vegetable garden.

Beyond its innovative homes, Friland encourages local enterprises. Residents support each other through shared projects like a volunteer-run grocery store and café, monthly communal dinners, and an annual assembly where they plan new initiatives.

The village even boasts a Michelin-recognized restaurant, Restaurant Moment, run by former residents, which uses locally sourced ingredients and greywater recycling to align with Friland’s ethos. United by a common goal, Friland’s residents strive to live debt-free, reduce their environmental impact, and foster a lifestyle rooted in connection and collaboration.

—Friland ecovillage: https://start.friland.org/about-friland/

On *faircompanies: https://faircompanies.com/videos/danish-friends-turn-corn-field-into-debt-free-ecovillage-of-friland/

Full-length video here 👉 https://youtu.be/exj0cBUN_Ac ☺️
Step into the sounds of solitude on a 12th-century Catalan farmhouse, where architect Marc Valero embraces the rhythms of the countryside. From the whisper of ivy on stone walls to the gentle lapping of water at the restored mill pond, every sound tells a story of a long time span. Life slows to its essentials in this retreat, inviting a deeper connection to history, nature, and quiet living.

Nestled in a serene valley, architect Marc Valero lives alone in a 12th-century watermill and farmhouse, a catalan masia immersed in the rhythms of nature and the slow quiet of a life shaped by the land’s enduring beauty.

The farmhouse, Can Capsec, embraces simplicity, a testament to the passage of time with its ivy-clad stone walls and expansive interior spaces, evoking nearly a millennium of stories.

Few know when they drive down the road that the place was preserved by an architectural studio known for its bold, modern buildings, Olot-based RCR. Recognizing the value of the old ways, they admit being humbled by the house, which didn’t need any radical “reinterpretation.” Sometimes, the architect’s task is knowing when to bow to tradition.

Once a home that welcomed large families and groups of friends, the six-bedroom farmhouse, with its cozy fireplace-adorned kitchen and sprawling living room, now serves as Marc’s deeply personal retreat. Nearby, the old watermill—once a bustling hub of rural industry—has been restored into a more intimate space. It sits beside a natural stone reservoir, seamlessly harmonizing with the surrounding landscape.

Marc’s connection to the property extends far beyond its walls. He swims in the natural ponds, but much of his day is devoted to embracing the quiet and listening to the sounds (ASMR) of the environment around him. Life here has slowed to a cadence that prioritizes the essentials, offering a stark contrast to the pace of the modern world.

Can Capsec had been owned by one family for generations until 2017, when the last owner, inspired by the work of RCR Architects, sold the property to them. Their vision was to preserve the farmhouse and mill as an open laboratory for transforming awareness and reshaping perceptions, maintaining its historical integrity while using it as a space for creativity and reflection.

Though the property is open for overnight rentals, Marc lives here alone during the off-season, embracing not luxury but the essentials of life. The slow rhythms of the art and nature in this dream geography invite a deeper connection to the world around him.

In this tranquil haven, we follow Marc through the farmhouse, the mill, and the surrounding ponds. Every detail—whether the timeless texture of stone or the reflective stillness of water—beckons one to step away from the haste of modernity and into a realm of quiet inspiration.

—Workshops at the farmhouse: https://www.rcrarquitectes.es/en/workshop/la-vila/
—RCR Arquitectes: https://www.rcrarquitectes.es/en/
—ASMR: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASMR

On *faircompanies: https://faircompanies.com/videos/pritzker-starchitects-humbled-by-old-home-they-didnt-change-a-thing/