Words by Codi Chen | Photos by Casey Woods

Living the Sustainable Dream

If there’s one thing that surprises guests when they enter this home, it’s the incredible scent of the forest. That’s the magic of living in a space made entirely of natural materials that continue to release earthy aromatic scents.

Nestled in the Govalle neighborhood of East Austin, Greg Esparza and Jackie Letelier’s two-bedroom, two-bathroom home is made entirely of plant-based materials. “When people want to remodel or build a house, they think about how they want the home to look. Most people don’t think about how they want the house to smell,” Greg notes.

Greg, co-founder of Moontower Design & Build and CEO of Cross Cabin Build & Supply, is driven by his passion for structuring homes with sustainable materials that result in zero-carbon emissions. His hands-on experience demolishing homes, especially when he first co-founded Moontower, gave him a front-row seat at how much non-biodegradable waste and harmful chemicals are not only installed in homes but also dumped into landfills. Greg recalls, “I just kept thinking, ‘Does it really have to be this way?’”

Turns out, the answer is no. After multiple years of research and design, Greg found a way to build a home without the traditional materials used in today’s construction practices, such as fiber cement siding, latex paint, and chemical adhesives. He explains that many people just accept that building materials have to be toxic, stinky, and itchy because that’s what will be most durable and long-lasting. He adds, “I am really passionate about materials that are natural, materials that you can really understand where they came from and how they’re made.”

Catch the Vibe!
Though the Cross Cabin is the first of its kind in Austin, the Moontower Design & Build team has multiple projects on the horizon of the same nature. As the year progresses, look for more modern earth-friendly homes from Greg’s innovative team.

The result is a natural, durable, equitable, zero-carbon home. By using natural plant-based materials, Greg aims to create homes that are healthy for both people and the earth. He advocates using materials like cork, essentially tree bark, for building exteriors. He also emphasizes using natural hemp and wood fiber insulation over synthetic materials. “With this project, I prioritized using only materials that participate in the Declare Program with the International Living Future Institute,” he proudly shares.
Indeed, the home does feel different from other new builds. Without the use of plastic or polyurethane, the walls are left unfinished, raw, and beautiful. The floor is covered with a natural linseed oil to protect and condition the wood, prepared to stand the test of time.

Aside from the structure of the home, Greg and Jackie’s interior aesthetic also aligns with their passion for nature. The home features a color palette inspired by the earth with pops of vibrant colors throughout. Handmade art pieces, some from Jackie’s native home of Chile, adorn the space, adding a deeply personal touch. “I like that feeling of craftsmanship and handmade art, maybe a little bit of a rustic feeling but with a modern sensibility,” Greg says about his individual style.

A Carbon-Neutral Future
By using fresh carbon versus fossil fuels, natural plant-based materials can have a negative carbon impact on the environment. More carbon is stored in the natural fibers of cork, hemp, and wood than the amount of carbon burned or released to process the materials.

The landscaping around the property is simple, yet beautiful, with a nod to the nearby greenbelt and swimming holes around Austin. A cowboy pool sits atop limestone boulder steps, a simple, yet chic, place to cool off from the Texas heat. “The biggest thing was to keep everything low maintenance, more of a zeroscaping approach,” Greg explains. Cedar mulch covers the ground instead of grass, which reduces unnecessary water waste throughout the year. The cedar also blends perfectly with the colors and texture of the cork on the home’s exterior, creating a satisfying palette of ambers and shades of brown.

For Greg, living sustainably isn’t just a lifestyle; it’s a passion and a calling. His home is a testament to his belief that humans can live in harmony with nature, creating spaces that are not only beautiful and functional but also environmentally responsible.

A Fragrant Revolution
Greg Esparza’s home isn’t just a marvel of sustainable living; it’s a testament to the power of natural materials. Using plant-based elements like cork and hemp, Greg has crafted a space that not only looks stunning but also emits the soothing scent of the forest, creating a truly immersive experience.

Contact:
828 Airport Blvd.
moontoweraustin.com
@moontoweraustin