Natural fibers offer thermal insulation performance that rivals that of conventional plastics and inorganic materials and provide a fully sustainable alternative to environmentally harmful plastics. Natural fibers are sensitive to environmental factors such as temperature, sunlight, and humidity, which can significantly shorten their lifespan. Among natural fibers, those derived from animals, like wool, are particularly … Read more
The marvelous Great Wall of China is a cultural icon deeply entwined with myth and legend. The Wall has been a military defense structure, a symbol of imperial power, and now a tourist monument. Ancient stories tell of a powerful sorcerer who shaped the Wall to ensure its invincibility with the aid of earth spirits … Read more
C-ELM incorporates cyanobacteria into translucent panels that can be mounted on to the interior walls of buildings. As the microorganisms grow using photosynthesis they pull carbon dioxide out of the air and affix it to calcium to create calcium carbonate, locking away the carbon. A kilogram of C-ELM can capture and sequester up to 350 … Read more
The ancient town of Anshun City in southwest China’s Guizhou Province has become a tourist attraction. These stone-structured residential buildings were built in the style of a fortress for resisting the enemy’s attacks in ancient times. In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), some troops were sent to Anshun, where they built villages and cultivated land for … Read more
The following are excerpts from the book Tiny by Louise Southerden: What does it mean to come home? To have a place of your own that feels safe in all the important ways? That wraps its arms around you when you arrive at the doorstep drenched in the problems of the world? For decades, whenever … Read more
Reminiscent Home is a century-old residence in Spain that has recently been renovated by the founder of architecture practice Funcionable and it happens to be the where he was born. “Many of the transformation operations have resulted in involuntary restitution of very ancient previous states, prior even to the author’s brief period of residence in his … Read more