The vast majority of people build their houses in a pretty similar way these days - but the reality is that there's an awful lot of freedom available for people with the time and passion to do something a bit different. Alternatives definitely aren't for everyone, but in some cases they'll turn out to be cheaper, more sustainable, and perhaps even more structurally sound and comfortable.

Check out the fantastic houses in this week's feature story - ever considered / built from something unusual before?