Lowtech Graph lists low-tech options for every need of a home. Here you can compare them, find tutorials to build them, and link them together into a circular system. Why low-tech?
Low-profile hip roof form
Passive · New build only
One of 3 ways to meet this need. Cost, carbon, footprint and rankings are relative to other solutions for the same need, not absolute.
A roof that slopes down on all four sides, kept fairly low. Wind flows over it smoothly instead of catching a tall, flat end wall, so there is less to lift or push. The roof and house stand up better to storms.
Build it
Nothing separate is built here: this is a choice about how the home is designed or used.
Cost
Low
Upkeep
None
Skill to build
None
Lifespan
Matches roof structure lifespan (a form choice, not a separate material)
Embodied carbon
Low
Space / material use
None
Output timing
None
Skill to repair
None
Regulation (FR example)
Part of the structure or footprint: covered by the building permit (permis de construire) for a new dwelling. Rural sites are additionally constrained by the commune's PLU zoning, outside a constructible zone, a new dwelling is generally refused.
Levels are relative to the other options for this need, not absolute. Fewer dots is lighter.
Low-profile hip roof form (This page) Can I use it? Not in a flat · New build only What does it cost me? Upfront cost: Low · Skill to build: None · Upkeep: None · Change to daily life: None · Works without the grid: Yes Choose it if you are designing a new roof and want the house to stand up better to wind at no extra cost.
Earth-sheltered / semi-buried form (storm resistance) Can I use it? Not in a flat · New build only What does it cost me? Upfront cost: High · Skill to build: Intermediate · Upkeep: Light · Change to daily life: None · Works without the grid: Yes Choose it if you are building new on an exposed site and also want indoor temperatures that stay steady all year.
Reinforced roof-to-wall strapping (hurricane ties) Can I use it? Works in a flat · No rebuilding needed What does it cost me? Upfront cost: Low · Skill to build: Basic · Upkeep: None · Change to daily life: None · Works without the grid: Yes Choose it if you want cheap, quick protection for an existing roof against being lifted in a storm.
We don’t list sizing or quantities, as the yield of each technique depends on the quality of its build. The catalogue compares options but doesn’t dimension them. Regulatory notes are indicative, with a French example, and need to be confirmed locally.