In a world increasingly affected by natural disasters, climate change, and housing crises, a seemingly simple technique has been attracting attention for decades: building houses with earthbags, also known as Superadobe. It has already demonstrated resistance to earthquakes, hurricanes, and fires. Popularized by Iranian-American architect Nader Khalili in the 1980s, superadobe combines ancient earth-based construction … Read more
The Rammed Earth House is one of the few projects in the UK built from unstabilised rammed earth, a material made entirely of compacted soil that has been used in construction since Neolithic times. Tuckey Design Studio, which worked on the Rammed Earth House, says “The increase in temperatures in Northern Europe means that this … Read more
As sustainability assessment lead at Sheffield University’s Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures, Stuart Walker wanted to make sure his garden office had the lowest possible embodied carbon and low energy use once it was up and running. That meant the office would need to be very well insulated and made of materials with low carbon content. … Read more
Hempcrete is made from hemp hurd, lime, and water. The hemp stalk consists of two primary components: the outer fiber, commonly used in textiles, and the inner core, known as the hurd. Traditionally considered agricultural waste, the hurd has a woody texture and serves as the main ingredient in hempcrete. Lime acts as a natural … Read more
This rustic cabin was built almost entirely with materials found in the forest environment itself. The project demonstrates how traditional techniques, when properly applied, result in a stable, durable shelter that is fully integrated into the landscape. The structure has an efficient indoor microclimate, balancing temperature, natural ventilation and thermal comfort throughout the day. The construction … Read more
Mark Young has been living a self-sufficient lifestyle on a remote off-grid island in British Columbia for the past 21 years. He has built 9 experimental buildings on his 20-acre property using local and natural materials like wood, stone and cob, including: a cabin for himself, utility buildings for his solar power systems, a sauna … Read more