Considering the size of that home, you could probably build a similar home out of almost any material for about the same price. You could probably pay a contractor to make you a traditional wood-frame home of the same size for the same money in less time. Still, that's an interesting and remarkably practical home that guy built for himself.

It cost him that much, we don't know what options he chose, labor, did he do the work himself etc. Then, what is the purpose of the house? Had he added, say $3000 more, he might have made so even his kids could grow there. etc etc.