Phase one: Find
Everything begins with the land. We help you define what the estate needs, then search privately for property that delivers it: water rights, year-round access, defensible terrain, soils that will grow food and drain properly, distance from population centers and hazards, and a county that will permit what you intend to build.
What happens
- A private briefing on your family, priorities and regions of interest
- An off-market and on-market property search
- Site visits and a written assessment of each candidate
- Due diligence: water rights, title, access, soils, hazards, zoning
- Acquisition support with your attorney and lender
Typical duration
One to six months, depending on how specific the requirements are and how much land is available in the region. If you already own the property, this phase becomes a site assessment of two to six weeks.
Phase two: Design
We design the whole estate at once: residence, below-grade quarters, perimeter, water, power, heat and food systems, in one master plan engineered together so every system serves the others.
What happens
- Survey, geotechnical investigation and well assessment
- Master site plan and architectural design
- Engineering for structure, below-grade construction, air filtration and utilities
- A household plan sized to the 180-day standard, with our planning tools as the starting point
- Budget, schedule and permitting strategy
Typical duration
Four to eight months, including design revisions and engineering. Permitting runs alongside and varies widely by state and county.
Phase three: Build
Our crews build every layer under one contract with one point of accountability. Below-grade work and utilities come first, then the residence, perimeter and grounds. The orchard and gardens are planted early so they are maturing by the time you move in.
What happens
- Site work, access roads and utilities
- Excavation and construction of the below-grade quarters
- The residence, gatehouse and outbuildings
- Perimeter, water, power and heating systems
- Greenhouse, orchard, gardens and storage
Typical duration
Generally fourteen to thirty months for a complete compound, depending on scope, site, weather and the length of the building season.
Phase four: Hold
A stronghold is only ready when the household is. We commission every system under load, stock the estate to the standard, and walk your family through how everything works, including what to do on the first day of a real disruption.
What happens
- Full systems commissioning and a 72-hour off-grid test
- Initial stocking and a rotation schedule
- Household orientation and written procedures
- A seasonal service schedule
- Ongoing support, with the same team that built it
Typical duration
Commissioning and orientation take two to four weeks. Seasonal service continues for as long as you want it.
What we need from you
Time at a few key decisions, and candor about your household. The design depends on who will live there, who else you would bring, their ages, their health and how long you want the estate to hold. Everything you share stays private.
Key takeaways
- Find, Design, Build, Hold: one contract, one team.
- The whole estate is designed together so every system serves the others.
- A complete compound typically takes two to three years from land to handover.
- Handover includes commissioning, stocking and household orientation.
Timelines are typical ranges, not commitments. Every schedule depends on the site, the scope, permitting and the weather, and is set in writing during design.