How this family achieved zero energy bills in their home

Step inside this glass dome under the northern lights

With a passion for saving the environment, the Hjertefølger family set themselves the task of building a sustainable house within a glass dome in the heart of Norway's Arctic Circle.

Despite the challenging climate, the innovative property has been their home since 2014. What's more, thanks to a host of clever technology, their household bills have dropped to almost nothing. 

Click and scroll to find out how they created their Arctic dome home...

Living among nature

It seems fitting that Hjertefølger translates as 'heart-followers' since this family of six was determined to bring their dream of sustainable living to life, despite the obstacles involved.

If building their own house wasn’t already a challenge, the couple also needed to take on nature, as Sandhornøya is located in the middle of the remote Arctic Circle. Living 365 days a year in the wilderness, the Hjertefølger house had to be designed to survive every challenge.

Heavenly location

Inspired by a similar property built inside a greenhouse, parents Ingrid and Benjamin had their hearts set on constructing their own eco house in one of the coldest places in the world.

Nestled among thick woodland and the freezing Arctic tundra, the breathtaking location was a far cry from the suburban backdrop of the average family home.

Challenging climate

Home to just a few million people, areas located in and around the Arctic Circle experience some of the most extreme weather conditions in the world.

Winters are long and extremely cold, while summers are short and cool, so their home needed to be able to cope with this harsh environment.

Drawing inspiration

The weather wasn’t going to stop them from achieving their dream, though. “We came across an article about a Swedish family living in a ‘nature house’, which is a house inside a greenhouse with its own water recycling system,” Ingrid says.

The home (pictured here in a YouTube tour) was built to help the residents survive the cold weather in Stockholm, Sweden, so the Hjertefølgers immediately saw that this ingenious system could overcome the bitter conditions in Sandhornøya too.

The Naturhus

Swedish architect Bengt Warne designed the original Naturhus back in 1976. His idea was to wrap a greenhouse around a house, which would help to keep homeowners warm and allow them to grow their own fruit and vegetables, even in the most extreme of environments.

Building with cob

This is exactly what the Hjertefølgers sought to do, too. “We were doing research online about different natural building techniques and fell in love with cob houses (homes made with natural materials).

"But that seemed like a difficult thing to do in northern Norway, with short summers and a lot of rain," Ingrid says.

A group effort

The family had plenty of help when it came to building their unusual home, with the process itself proving very hands-on. "The house was built out of cob, which is just a mixture of sand, clay, and straw.

"You can mix the cob with your feet, a cement mixer, or whatever tools you have available," Ingrid says. "Eventually, the cob becomes a solid mass, which you can make bricks out of."

Taking shape

Incredibly sustainable and cheap to build, cob homes are a favourite among eco homebuilders. A robust construction method with a tiny carbon footprint, it's easy to achieve curved walls with this method – a must for the family's dome structure.

A labour of love

"But building takes time," Ingrid adds. "It took one year for the initial build and five years all in all. Even when we moved in, there was still lots of work to do!”

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Geodesic dome

True to the design of a Naturhus, the family built their cob home inside a glass geodesic dome. Designed by pioneering construction company Solardome, the structure contains 360 glass panels, with double doors, 11 windows, and a large door to allow access to an outdoor decked area.

A warm oasis

The amazing house was featured in a film called Hjertefølgerne / The Heart Followers. As chilly as it can be on the outside, the glass dome acts just like a greenhouse and retains plenty of heat on the inside.

There's even space at the top of the dome to kick back on a hammock and admire the stunning ocean views.

Powered by nature

The couple splashed out 3,200,000 kr (£253k /$339k) to build the property, but their lifestyle is now cheaper than ever.

An array of solar panels powers the house with energy derived from the sun. The cost of running the unconventional family home is very low, with minimal impact on the surrounding environment.

Fit for a family

Measuring 2,583 square feet (240sqm), the quirky house has more than enough room for the family of six. The interior layout, which features five spacious bedrooms, two bathrooms, a lounge, a kitchen, a dining room, and a garage, provides a comfortable home for the Hjertefølgers.

Natural materials

Inside, the home's cob walls have been left bare with rough, exposed plaster. Natural materials have been used throughout the interior, from the warm wood front door to the storage units used to organise the family's belongings.

"Being inside the house is relaxing. Many tell us that when they visit, they feel a certain calmness," Benjamin says.

Unique artwork

In the main open-plan living area, rustic beams add a characterful touch to the home, while hand-shaped doorways reflect the architecture's organic structure.

However, it's the floor-to-ceiling fabric banner featuring an old oak tree that draws the eye and offers a welcoming focal point.

Salvaged and repurposed

Decked out with every essential appliance, the kitchen is a masterclass in breathing new life into salvaged materials.

The kitchen is an informal collection of cabinetry and shelving, with arched windows and a curved breakfast bar adding to the organic feel and allowing the splendour of natural materials to do all the talking.

The heart of the home

Wooden crates offer tabletop storage, while old drawers have been repurposed as wall-mounted shelving. Meanwhile, the cabinetry and breakfast bar, created from off-cuts of wood, are the result of thrifty craftsmanship.

The heart of the home, the Hjertefølger's kitchen, is the perfect place to gather for family dinners and cosy mugs of cocoa – vegan, of course!

Cosy family spaces

While the home embraces rustic, natural living, it doesn't go without its fair share of comfortable touches. The curved sofa, which was built from recycled wood planks, features an array of boho-style printed cushions and cosy throws.

Offset against a colourful tapestry and plenty of greenery, this snug space offers a zen-like feel.

Relax and unwind

Even the bathroom benefits from a few indulgences alongside its characterful fixtures. Just check out those wall-mounted storage units crafted from branches. An oval freestanding bathtub offers a peaceful space to soak and unwind under whimsical strings of fairy lights.

Self-sufficient living

Outside the walls of the home, there's plenty of green space to enjoy. Not only is the large glass dome that surrounds the property a powerful insulator, but it also houses a flourishing vegetable garden. The family can grow their own produce all year round, from apricots, plums, and kiwis, to cucumbers, carrots, and beetroots.

Cyclical system

They use an innovative irrigation system to feed the garden, as waste water from the house is recycled and used to nourish the soil and grow toxin-free produce.

"A timer regulates the amount of water for the plants. Irrigation and fertilisation take care of themselves," Ingrid says.

Back to basics

Embracing a vegetarian and vegan diet, the family have always been eco-conscious, which is why they were especially keen to ensure the house had the space and facilities for them to grow their own food. “We used to buy only organic products, grow food in our garden, and so on, so we wanted to continue that lifestyle,” Ingrid Hjertefølger says.

During the summer months, the Hjertefølgers reap the rewards of their garden, picking fresh fruit and veg they’ve grown as part of their sustainable lifestyle.

Simple pleasures

Thanks to their home's enviable location, the family love nothing more than spending their days in nature. From long walks in the surrounding woodlands to swimming in the lake, the Hjertefølgers know how to enjoy life's simple pleasures.

Ingrid also homeschools her four children, but when the weather is right, she allows them a snow day. The family spend their days off sledging in the backyard, showing exactly how homeschooling is done in the Arctic Circle!

Overcoming obstacles

Yet that's not to say that biodome life is completely without its challenges. Ingrid took to Instagram to explain exactly how the family tackles the cleaning. “Our dome has about 400 windows and we clean them every spring,” she said.

“We have never cleaned the outside, the snow does the job! We always start by using a pressure washer all over to remove most of the dust before starting to clean by hand.

We reach most of the windows as we’re standing by the dome wall. For the rest, we use a telescope window cleaner.”

A second dome

In 2017, the family's quirky settlement expanded, as construction began on a second, smaller geodesic structure, again designed by Solardome.

Nestled against the rugged mountains, it's a space where the public can experience this unique style of architecture for themselves and soak up the natural surroundings.

Space for relaxation

Named the FreeDome, the family built this new structure as a space to hold meditation retreats and yoga classes, and they also rent out the dome as a unique party and wedding venue, too. We can't imagine a more relaxing outlook than that tranquil waterfront.

Taking time out

During the Covid-19 lockdown, the family were in the perfect position to self-isolate and spend time together without visitors staying. “We decided to take a whole year's break before Corona came around,” Ingrid said.

“The plan was to stay at home and enjoy the midnight sun and family life all summer. For eight years straight, we’ve had hundreds of guests every single summer. We needed a quiet year.”

Under the northern lights

While the architecture is undoubtedly fascinating, we're most envious of the family home's remote location. In this part of the Arctic Circle, the bewitching green ripples of the northern lights are a regular sight.

You couldn't get a much better view of them. "I love this strange house we made, and from time to time we laugh out loud over how weird it is," Ingrid told her Instagram followers.

The 10-year anniversary

The family celebrated their 10th anniversary in their biodome home with this post showcasing their charming Christmas decorations.

A cosy biodome certainly seems like the perfect place to hunker down for the holidays, and the Hjertefølgers don’t have any intention of leaving any time soon.

Winter in the biodome

Indeed, there doesn’t seem to be a bad season for the biodome. In the winter, the dome freezes over to look like an iced gumdrop, with beautiful ice crystal patterns visible on the glass inside, according to Ingrid.

However, even when outside temperatures plummet, the biodome’s heat-retention technology keeps things nice and toasty inside.

Zero-waste shopping

During the cold winter months, when they can’t rely on food from their garden, the family stocks up on dry goods like beans, rice, and pasta sourced from a local zero-waste store.

Everything is then stored in plastic-free containers in the basement or displayed on the handmade, open wooden shelves.

The key to happiness

This incredible home has been a labour of love for the intrepid family. “I think that if everyone fulfilled their dreams and did the things they were good at, the world would function wonderfully," Ingrid says.

"I believe there’s an intelligent design behind everything. Everyone is supposed to do their part, and what’s needed. I have devoted my life to permaculture. I want to show that it is possible to do whatever you want, even though no one has ever done it before." 

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