Restores abandoned Pyrenees home by hand with regenerative system

After purchasing a ruin in a hilltop hamlet in the Spanish Pyrenees, Emmanuel Pauwels created a home in close harmony with the elements by first spending an entire year observing the patterns of the wind, sun, and rain. The house is called Cal Guerxo, honoring its traditional name among locals in the hamlet it belongs to.
Today, the sun provides for passive heating of the home via south-facing windows, but also an antechamber devoted toward capturing the sun's warmth and distributing it through the home. In summer, the wind is funneled through the home for passive cooling.
Using a system of gutters and a first flush system for cleaning the rooftop water, the home captures, consumes, and returns 80,000 liters of rainwater to the garden every year. The gravity-flow composting toilets (on all floors) use a source separation system so the urine can remain sterile and be diverted to the garden.
Even the swimming pool is a refuge for the local flora and fauna. Pauwels created an organic pool that is cleaned by a regeneration zone: a natural system of plants and gravel. There are even frog stairs to support the couple of frogs that live in the pool.
Pauwels believes that homes can give back to their environment: "It's not about being less bad, it's about being good." He also feels strongly that homes in harmony with their context provide more happiness for their occupants.
More on Cal Guerxo: www.usgbc.org/projects/cal-gu...
Green Living Projects: www.greenlivingprojects.com/
*On faircompanies: faircompanies.com/videos/turn...

[@mitymi]

"It's not ab0out being less bad, it's about being good." - Key takeaway.

[@maodonimega]

Absolutely.

[@OIII-IOOO]

words to live by

[@aaron.silveira]

This is my favorite video yet. This man is present, conscious, and ambitious. The house feels balanced, creative, and somehow feels humble despite the size. Wonderful perspective!

[@sharrablackfire7337]

I want a life like this T_T

[@jujubeethatsme]

Yes exactly right!

[@sallylyons430]

So well said

[@pernilladahlander7023]

I agree

[@jack_irl]

Real architect vibes

[@PaoloSulprizio]

People like him should have key positions in governments

[@mikanfarmer]

I'm fairly sure that people comment all the time that 'this is the best house ever', etc .............but without a doubt this is the best house I have seen on your channel, (and watching for over 5 years). The thought through concepts, ...the amount of hard physical work, ...and the attention to detail is second to none, ......in my opinion. Thank you for filming it, ....... and Emmanuel for doing it !

[@amu444]

Agreed - not trying to be funny but this home is on another level entirely. What an example of comfortable, harmonious living among the wild mountain heights. I can only imagine the sight of those vultures. This is the ultimate, thank you.

[@pauwelsemmanuel]

Great to hear you like the house. I did spent a lot of time thinking things though but we can never think things through enough. Thank you though for your kind words

[@elizabethmorton4904]

This home is very similar to one that friends of my parents constructed in Vancouver way back in the early 70's. Originally it was a very small home perched on the edge of a hill to the rear. They expanded the rear to form a new kitchen and sitting area at the back, with an open staircase down to the lower level. The back wall faced south, and was entirely glass, so it created a two-storey greenhouse, in which they grew vegetables all year long. The back wall was very thick and absorbed heat during the day, which was radiated to the house after nightfall. They had a small wood stove in a living room at the front of the house, facing north. Except for that small living room the house ran (and presumably still runs) entirely on passive heat, and that worked extremely well even during Vancouver's very cloudy and rainy winters. The creator of that home was an engineer. The owners passed away quite a few years ago, and I don't know who has the home now. I think there were a lot of homes created on similar principles during the very early '70's, during that early environmental movement, but all built by individuals, and tucked away in corners of our ordinary residential neighbourhoods. It's a shame we don't know more about them. It would be wonderful if someone could locate such buildings and bring them to the attention of the public now, when we are all far more educated and aware of the issues of climate change. Historically, also, it would be interesting to research those efforts, as they are 50 years or more older now, and it would be interesting to know how well they have managed to achieve the builders' aims half a century later.

[@lavondacarter7228]

Yes , would be interesting to know !

[@ayouness]

Agree! My father who was an engineer himself, designed & built our 4-level home on five acres in hilly rural Rochester, Michigan in the 1950's. Uncle Ed also an engineer, & Aunt Ruth, (my parent's best friends), purchased half our property & built a six-level home on their lot. Both homes were designed & built to maximize the benefits of the topography, sun movement, wind direction, etc. Very Frank Lloyd Wright-ish - using all natural materials, and lots of double-paned glass. You never need air conditioning, because half the house is built into the hill & remains 65 degrees all year round.

[@canyonhaverfield2201]

yes agree whole-heatedly Elizabeth- Look for home design books from Shelter Publications..self produced by 50 years of home research from Lloyd Kahn. This as well, tough & expensive to locate a copy- Handmade Houses/ Richard Olsen, Rizzoli ..& Kirsten aired a beautiful visit with Lloyd at his coastel home so be sure to look for that gem🎉

[@emmasise1004]

what neighborhood is the house in? i want to keep my eye out for it!

[@elizabethmorton4904]

@@emmasise1004 Out west, north of West Point Grey, that area. But from the front it's a very ordinary house - the addition is at the rear. You wouldn't notice it.

[@valerieann8007]

Many wonderful qualities, including being helpful to area wildlife -- I especially love things like steps out of the pond designed for the 2 frogs that visit the pond! The whole home is beautiful!😄❤

[@kirstendirksen]

I loved that pool as well. Always loved swimming in lakes so I could relate to his comments.

[@rubenk202]

@@kirstendirksen Last summer I visited a EuroParcs camping in Hermagor, Austria that utilizes the same concept but on a larger scale. Amazing experience. Btw, thank you for all the amazing stories.

[@hilaryabbot9297]

We are actually in the French Pyrénées and have been planning a similar pool but hadn't found technical advice outside UK. Meeting up with these guys might actually be the thing we need. Thank you @Kirsten Dirksen. My skin can't tolerate chlorine.

[@gayledayman2382]

There was no mention of refrigerator?

[@ronsmith1364]

@@gayledayman2382 They have modern appliances. But with those lower spaces perhaps a root cellar too? idk

[@rogerbmcdaniel]

What an amazing place! I love the fact that the owners left the place "lived in", for the filming. Your videos continue to bring me joy. Thank you.

[@garrygballard8914]

Thank you Kirsten for finding this and showing it to us. This is living within nature.👏👏👏 Bravo, Beautiful.

[@jillmadigan9841]

This home displays many Permaculture principles, built on by great imagination, experience, and ingenuity. It's an evolving work of living art. Thank you, Kirsten and family!

[@pauwelsemmanuel]

yes I have sourced a lot from the principles of permaculture which I believe are important when desinging anything that is place based. Thank you for your kind words.

[@mihiec]

Enjoy this amazing 2023!!

[@miangelsai]

Anything I say , it will not make honor to this place ... and Emmanuel , a very conscious man .. I am an architect and this makes me feel very happy to see péople who realy makes the best posible way to live in harmony with the envirnonment . I would love to be his neighbor.Thanks Kirsten .

[@missbee9140]

Your kids are really growing up!

[@judithbreastsler]

Probably the coolest high-concept ecohome I've seen to date.

[@jennymauger]

What a treat!!! THANK YOU Original builders, Emmanuel Pauwels Family & Kirsten Family for the overall RECONNECTION 💓

[@thinkplanetearth2946]

Beautiful location. Loved your drone shots. Really like his philosophy about being in harmony with nature as opposed to trying to force something to live a more modern lifestyle. And how very smart to wait a year before doing anything so that he could have an understanding of the airflow and sun positioning and then act accordingly.

[@canyonhaverfield2201]

All my adult years as a hippy living California coastal..messages would come over time regards to the nutrient value of 'our' urine..this mornings tidbit of urine talk arrived so timely..I was making brek, and as I took in this tour, & words expressed how both by products of our diet were gathered then later spread for nutrient values into the garden crops dirt..suddenly I felt the urge to pee..& without a moments hesitation I placed a cup beneath Mt apparatus to catch it..added a little blue agave..& thru it back..yet not carelessly, & not reluctantly. Instead my mind.was radiant with feelings of deep thanks & acknowledgment of the Circle of Life. 80 % of our diets nutrients go to producing our urine...maybe that its named Your-In is important...yet already Im imagining some readers seeing the viability of the translation being - your-out🎉 Thanks to our gracious deeply alive talented host Emmanuel Pauwel for this fascinating walk thru and for inspiring me so naturally. I raise my glass to his inspirations. Agree too regards to hammock loungers. they were the chair of choice for many houseboats off Tiburon back in the hey& kelp days of Marin Ca.. Along those lines..Tug my camper.truck experiences deep snug warmth this wet winter since reinstalling my TinyTot charcoal burner.

[@d-rot]

"It's not about sq-meters, it's about the quality of the space." Bravo.

[@jackwest3282]

I love the beautiful stone and masonry work as well as the wood work in the house and the beautiful clay walls of the house. The only thing more beautiful than the house is the heart this man shows towards the world around him. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful and beautiful video Kirsten!

[@mariapottery]

It is amazing how he paying attention about things around himself, the nature etc..!

[@SagaJohanna]

I love the organic pool, every pool should be like that - so incredible! Can't believe I didn't learn about this concept until I was 27!!!

[@NeuroPulse]

This guy has certainly carved himself out a nice slice of heaven there.

[@yvanapantino273]

So very inspiring and yet most people are oblivious as to what can be done to reclaim old villages to live in a modern way.

[@amyholman354]

I'd be happy with a bedroom looking down on the clouds and with stepping out on a balcony grazed by passing vultures and to go outside and swim with frogs. Thanks for this tour.

[@yellowfrogcommunity]

What a stunning home! All the details and love put into this place, so inspiring!

[@odetakaniauskaite7862]

Kirsten, you and your husband have an amazing gift of transporting us to where ever you are! I really felt like i was in the Pyrenees mountains while watching this video.

[@carenburmeister5002]

This is a magnificent house! Emmanuel’s vision, ingenuity and artistry blows my mind.

[@holliequinton2616]

This location is wonderful. The open concept and bringing outside in is excellent. I love how they recycle the water naturally and use the elements to heat and cool the house. Very educational and interesting. Thank you for all you do! I look forward to all of your videos.

[@azz2]

Really like the live pool concept.

[@UpUpDnDnLtRtLtRtBAStart]

I love this channel. We learn so much about living and how we can live in harmony with the earth. - thank you Kirsten !

[@swoondrones]

This is amazing! The full glass walls, living outside inside, is what architecture really should be. Those windows are extraordinary!

[@elmarwolters2751]

Fantastic

[@ruslankizlaitis781]

I very rarely remember anything. This time, I remembered almost everything). Thank you.

[@LTJC70]

I really love this man's way of explaining things.,. Tadpoles cleaning your toes... Completing the circle of life, Beautiful,!!!!

[@philiq18]

I'm a fan of natural swimming pools. It's a plus for natural surroundings.

[@hikermanwa]

Wow, this one is definitely in my top ten favorite places you’ve shown us

[@zedwolf1589]

This is a very cool house, I'd have to say the way he designed it to be part of the earth and not against the earth. He's built a brilliant home.

[@indiracamotim2858]

I am richer in my consciousness, just from seeing this video. I love everything about this house, indoors ans outdoors. Thank you 🪴🍀🌱🌿

[@MrOj53]

Hi Kirsten! I have followed you and your family for a few years now, and I "LIKE" your work. Many times I have wondered how do you live yourself? Did I miss an episode? Happy New Year from Sweden

[@Robert_Hermigua]

They live in or near Paris. They also have a house in Spain, which was shown in at least 2 videos.

[@karenubungen3501]

House in a mountain top has always the best views😄👍

[@ValeriaVincentSancisi]

Another Christopher Alexander reference .. I thought this design was very Pattern Language.... beautiful.. piece of art!

[@missglenellen]

No words. Such a beautiful and respectful place. Thank you for sharing!

[@theuglykwan]

The level of mindfulness they employed here is insane.

[@paulwall5706]

Love your Ytube Channel 🌅🌺🤗🙏👍👍

[@allegrosotto2126]

One of my favorites, Thank you!

[@truthbetold2611]

I love how philosophical people you interview are. They're builders of dreams and teachers of principles.

[@lacasaintegralsccl]

Well deserved titles for Emmanuel's home: Regenerative, Net-Positive, a platinum LEED certified home, the first project in Europe to be able to say it has accomplished criteria of the Living Building Challenge etc... Great topic for one of your videos Kirsten! Sorry to have missed you on this visit, thanks for sharing all these lovely places, projects and people in our area! Best wishes for you and your family in this New Year!

[@mysticalmisty9772]

Absolutely love the quirky layout of the house the colours, the natural pool and the views are spectacular!

[@nativetexson]

As a child, my parents took my siblings and I to Iceland on two separate occasions to visit family friends; once in the winter and the other in the summer. Experiencing the long days of darkness as well as the long days of light were like a fantasy. And we saw the northern lights... undescribable.

[@dixiechicken2643]

Once again, your family does such a great job of showing us how other people live, and how we can live too. Thank you for sharing with us, these wonderful places and their amazing views.

[@annaharris1109]

This way of thinking is so 'outside the box', it's amazing. Rain water runs through the house. Thank you, guys, for letting me to see that

[@davidlist7507]

What a beautiful artistic genius for sure and one of the best homes I have seen in a long while.

[@chrisburton4128]

Best channel on KZbin

[@delmar418]

This home is LUSCIOUS. It's warm and cozy like a small place with the expansive openness of the large. It doesn't compartmentalize. It has a soft quality to it from structure to colors. I've always known, yet forget how surrounded we are by gases and elements, radioactivity. So I wonder what it would be like to spend a few months away from all that to see how it affects me.

[@lilirehak5569]

Loving the natural pool. What a great idea.

[@Prajnashakti]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

[@shancre]

I really love your work. Please keep doing this kinda stuff

[@BrendaJMay]

BLESSED LIVING💯🤨🙏♥️🙏♥️🙏♥️🙏🤨😘

[@qflower4982]

Loved everything about this home. Wow.

[@Zirboman]

this is paradise in my opinion.

[@the_str4ng3r]

Beautiful views! Another great find, guys!

[@tinekejoldersma]

Beautiful place, well built. Harmonic with all around it. Thanks for showing us, Kirsten.

[@joecutro7318]

Thanks, Kirsten. Your videos, the people and places they spotlight give me Faith in the Future. ☺️🌍🌎🌏☮

[@anamaria2053]

What a thoughtful and exquisite home. ❤

[@mihiec]

Thanks for another amazing documentary!!!

[@MsSherryjh]

What a wonderful home!!

[@capsytb]

Learned a lot and all makes sense. Thank you.

[@lourdesmurilloquintana5123]

Brillant concept..living with and along side nature

[@briangarrow448]

There are companies that build natural cleaning pools in Europe and North America. Lots of people don’t want a chlorinated pool. Incredible home and designer.

[@WhiteyKnuckles]

Amazing. And everything has been carried up through the only street - which makes the result even more impressive.

[@ginalarsen4875]

This place is stunning! Thank you for sharing.

[@MotoM0nk]

Absolutely amazing, a lot of Yogic wisdom in building the house after watching sun, wind, etc and shapes, materials. I've no words

[@janalavtizar4426]

Wow. One of my favourites👌

[@waylonk2453]

That is amazing! This video captured my attention unlike any of the wonderful ones I've seen so far. Truly wonderful setting, and the biological pool was next level.

[@familyb5625]

Thanks for the video. Love your channel!

[@stoneclod71]

Omg, amazing. Thank you for sharing ❤

[@Onionbaron]

What a wonderful place and mentality!

[@consciousobserver629]

Stunning home!!

[@suewarman9287]

Beautiful - thank you.

[@mihiec]

They are so lucky & smart to get this place!

[@normanmerrill1241]

Another incredible find…beautiful location…brilliant renovation…one of the best…thanks…

[@nembutsu1045]

I learnt two things from this video: first observe the land and environment before building anything permanent and second use rounded corners almost everywhere, the lighting aspect and softer shadows makes so much sense

[@kristimcgowandarkoscellard3126]

This home is absolutely stunning and an ingenious design!!! I love it!!!! Cheers

[@tomasviane3844]

Such a nice place!!

[@erickhian]

Incredible how this people live in a so peaceful way. Awesome video!

[@swingnigloo]

Very inspiring! Thank you for another great video.

[@wiboxermom7829]

Stunning, amazing, gorgeous, beautiful.

[@lesworks]

Simply brilliant! Kudos!

[@farmpite]

Honestly a dream house, everything done right !

[@grn6267]

unbelievable and mind blowing!! Thank you Kirsten..

[@Jayapullani]

Love this, it is so well thought out and has a lovely ambience about it with the natural clay interior walls.

[@Noukz37]

I'm just blown away... perfect!!

[@charlottewilliams7866]

A Pattern Language! Sigh. I found my copy in a bag of crochet work a few days ago. Had been looking for it for months! Questioning myself if I had lent it to someone. Unlikely, as it is my necessary book when life is disturbing. Patterns of design and building that have worked for ages. Totally makes sense that he is aware of the book and those patterns.

[@kathleenomalley7838]

Most incredible "earthship" style home I've ever seen.

[@albertptran]

Love his explanations and details about temperature, wind and how to position the house

[@bennerdan]

"It's not about square meters. It's about quality of space." That is one heck of a quote.

[@heatherjephcott5022]

Fantastic - almost from any angle you think about this - every angle you look.

[@marihannah6702]

Wow! Impressive and beautiful!

[@gringopapi6985]

I love this man, done such a good job

[@STEAMLabDenver]

Just as expected, fantastic content. Thank you. 🙏🏻❤️

[@kerm1t2]

true connection with earth and life