Image by keepitsurreal
“Surprised” is hardly the word to describe the way I felt after finding out that Hobbit “holes” really exist – and people actually live in them! As a Lord of the Rings fan, I feel obliged to embrace such an existence, and these picturesque little dwellings have a certain idyll that harks back to a more organic grow-your-own-vegetables way of life.
Image by keepitsurreal
This Hobbit hole can be found in one of the world’s most spectacular show gardens. Nestling against the 7,000 foot Mt. Cheam near Chilliwack in stunning British Columbia, Canada, Minter Gardens was created through the vision of its founder, Brian Minter.
Image by Lanzen
Continuing our journey around the world, this appealing offering is located just outside the walls of Dubrovnik, the stunning port city in Croatia on the shores of the Adriatic Sea. Whether anyone lives there is unclear, but thinking about it, Hobbits could be very secretive creatures when they ventured beyond the boundaries of the Shire.
Image by Jan Tik
This Hobbit home in Poulsbo, Washington State, appears to be based on the structure of an original house, or barn perhaps? But even so, the rich greens of the garden combined with the delightful turquoise window frames would surely prove popular with our Hobbit friends if they set off for the Undying Lands and accidentally landed on the west coast of the United States.
Images by stendec
Finally, and particularly ironically, the most derelict and depressed looking Hobbit holes of all can be found on the remains of the “Hobbiton” set in New Zealand, where The Lord of the Rings was filmed. Here, the rough structure consisting of a false facade covering a rudimentary chicken wire frame is clearly visible. It’s incredible to think that, with all the work that went into Hobbiton (the New Zealand army helped build the set in a farmer’s field months in advance to ensure real plants would grow), it’s fast returning to ordinary farm land with only a few sheep around to enjoy the view.
Further Reading
Check out these awesome ideas from Green Life Smart Life
Mayors Show How Easy Sustainability Can Be – Eco Living Centre
House That Looks Like a Hobbit’s Home from LOTR – Home-Designing.com
