Pouring Concrete into Keene Castle in the 25th build season

This month, I'm publishing a different kind of blog - something a little more fun and a lot more personal than the usual business/software stuff. Many of you may not know that, for the past 25 years, I have been building my dream home with my own two hands — a 7,500 sq. ft. off-the-grid medieval castle 600 ft. up on a cliff in the White Mountain National Forrest of New Hampshire. 

Back when I was a computer programmer in the US Army, I had the privilege of serving in Germany. I was in the 25th Data Processing Unit and lived in Schwetzingen, Germany, for a few years. I learned German, fell in love with old German architecture, and visited many castles during my time living there. It was truly a moving experience to be surrounded by such beautiful architecture and rich history. I was in awe every time I stepped out the door.

As an artist and science nerd, I wanted to try my hand at architecture and construction.  So, when I purchased this incredible 20-acre lot in 1998, located at the top of a mountain, I got the crazy idea to build a castle, even though I had never designed or built a house before, let alone a complex castle on a granite cliff. It was a daunting endeavor, but I was up for the challenge. I consider this my giant life-long art & science project.

But how can a computer programmer design and build a castle with zero experience? The answer is simple: it comes down to good problem-solving skills. Think about it, what does a computer programmer do? He/she solves problems all the time. Every web application project is a new problem to be solved.  And programmers have to reinvent themselves every few years as new technologies emerge on the market. That requires extensive research and the ability to acquire new skills continually. So it's not a stretch of imagination to think that those same problem-solving skills and learning skills could be applied to castle construction. Additionally, one needs to possess a clear vision, a strong mindset, and a burning desire to succeed.

On July 24, 2025, I achieved a major milestone in the castle's construction: I hired a concrete crew to pour concrete into my second-floor Nudura ICF walls. See this 4.5-minute video of the concrete pour; the views are stunning:

What's next?

In 2026, I'll install the Douglas Fir timber that will support the roof and construct the flat roof. The only remaining concrete work is to complete two gable ends, which will rise only four blocks, and to build two spiral staircase turrets, which will ascend one more story.

In 2027, after 26 years of working on the castle, I will finally hire a professional building contractor & crew to complete the interior and handle tasks that I am not qualified to do, such as plumbing & electrical. They will also do the spires and the slate roof. I always say, "Roofing is a younger man's sport!" You really need special equipment and training for that.  While they work on the interior, I'll be installing a real stone veneer on the outside, building the stone fireplace, making the huge wooden front door, and building the 25-foot-long wooden dining room table. I will hire contractors to install an off-the-grid power system, comprising a ground-mounted solar PV system, Tesla Solar Roof tiles, a Tesla Powerwall battery storage system, a wind turbine, a solar hot water heater, and a geothermal heat pump that will utilize the heat of the solid granite to heat the radiant heat floors. We aim to generate sufficient excess electricity to power two electric vehicles.  If all goes as planned, we'll move into the castle in the spring of 2028. Of course, the devil is in the details!

To learn more about my castle project, see engineering drawings, and the photo history over the past 25 years, please visit https://www.KeeneCastle.com 

One final thought: If I can build a castle, just think what I can do with your software project! My software team and I make dreams come true. We can bring your web application vision to life.