Overall, straw is a sustainable material that has plenty of redeemable features when it comes to construction, though it may not be suited for everyone or every situation. Take time to look at the risks and rewards (and limitations) while considering a straw bale house. Straw bale houses are considered eco-friendly thanks to the main … Read more
Cob, a mixture of subsoil and straw, was historically used in England and there are examples of cob buildings over 500 years old. Despite renewed interest, cob construction remains the niche activity of a few enthusiasts. There are no standards for making and using cob, and insulation needs to be added to the walls in … Read more
A 19th-century hay barn in Surrey, England has been transformed into a into a family home, revealing the original stone structure and complementing it with cedar shingle-clad extensions. “The stone walls were in good condition and the roof had been recently re-tiled, so to reduce the carbon footprint of the project we went for a … Read more
Learn to Draw Your Home in 3D. Starting about Jan 6, this online course will be interwoven with short video snippets from previous live builds. Alosha Lynov, of BioVeda, will show the hows and whys of construction methodologies to get your home from paper to 3D software to physical reality. This will be a guided … Read more
Marks Barfield Architects designed the Cambridge Central Mosque that is respectful of its surroundings while incorporating traditional Islamic design aspects, including geometric patterns that symbolize the infinite. The building, which replaces an old mosque that had become too small for the congregation, was designed around the idea of a “calm oasis of contemplation” situated within … Read more
It took 2 years and 3.5 million pounds of dirt just to create the two-foot-thick rammed-earth walls of this 6,000-square-foot home designed by Lake Flato Architects for Ashlyn and Dan Perry outside of Marfa, Texas. “Part of the reason that rammed earth was the chosen construction method was due to the thermodynamic properties. Because of … Read more