This Raymond Smith Design is a Self-Sufficient Wonder

South Africa’s power grid can sometimes be more than a little unstable, and with that in mind Raymond Smith designed this remarkable barnhouse to depend as little as possible on the country’s infrastructure for its needs.

Featuring rainwater collection, wind power turbines and photovoltaic panels, Raymond Smith’s barnhouses also make use of passive design elements to use as little energy as possible. The result is a comfortable but utterly self-sufficient structure that effectively juggles living and environmental concerns.

Implications - The creation of sustainable housing by private actors shows how citizens, especially in less-industrialized countries, are no longer relying on the government to provide them with social services and other infrastructure.