Completed in 1972, the Thumb House was one of Michael Reynolds’ first experiments with what he called “Earthship Biotecture.” Reynolds was troubled by the news that people were producing more and more garbage, so he decided to repurpose certain waste products as building materials. He would eventually become famous for building with old tires and discarded cans and bottles.

The Thumb House marked a significant innovation for Reynolds: it was the first time he used beer cans for structural support. He would tie several of them together to form “bricks,” cement the bricks with mortar, and then seal them into the walls. Radical practices like this brought Reynolds into conflict with certain oversight bodies, who forced him to give up his architecture license. But after a long battle, Reynolds’ won over the public, had his license restored, and became a hero to sustainable living advocates.