Raised earth foundations for a Yurt

[moosemaster]

Hello all,

First time poster, looking to move onto a croft on the west coast of Scotland and feeling my way through the yurt route. I posted this on the Permies forum and subsequently found this place so thought I'd stick it over here too:

Originally Posted by Sean Kettle

Weighing up raised earth foundation + earthen floor against decking for a yurt we hope to be living in.

The raised earth foundations I'm considering will benefit from being insulated, having thermal mass and will certainly last longer. May prove to be more expensive initially - there'll be landscaping and excavating needing done.

Excavate area, build a dry stone retaining wall:



Lay fabric membrane, fill up to ground level with foam glass:



Lay membrane, pack in earthen floor using earth from excavation. I'm thinking of screening the earth and stabilizing with lime ala Tataki floors.



View from below:



The only similar foundation I could find:



Any thoughts or ideas welcomed! Can this be pulled off? Will a dry stone retaining wall suffice? Have no experience in the matters of Yurt living or foundation building.