To reduce the reliance of earthbag construction on polypropylene, an environmentally detrimental material, and simultaneously address the urgent issue of fast fashion waste, this research explores the suitability of using earthbag construction to reduce postconsumer clothing waste in landfills. Three approaches to generating new earthbag geometries were explored using sewn domestic craft: alternate modular arrays, … Read more
The ethos of Masons Ink, the Bengaluru-based sustainable architecture firm helmed by Sridevi and Rosie, lies in ensuring sustainability gets a voice through all of their projects. Elaborating on how they bonded over their shared interest in sustainability in architecture, Sridevi says, “Our story goes all the way back to our undergraduate days in college. … Read more
In a village called Yul in India stands the Yabgo Dynasty Palace. It has a weathered wooden entrance guarded by a carved eagle, and it was built to endure. The ground floor is made up of spaces that speak of life lived simply. The kitchen has walls darkened by generations of smoke. There is a … Read more
Jeannette Kuo: Both of you have been questioning standardized materials that have dominated the industry and rethinking what we can do better in our means of production. Some of this involves revisiting more traditional ways of building that have been forgotten or are not as common these days. I’m curious about the challenges you’ve come … Read more
Once dismissed as purely vernacular, rammed earth is now considered a high-performance building material, capable of meeting contemporary structural demands while addressing urgent imperatives of climate resilience, sustainability, and human well-being. This transition is driven by advancements in geotechnical engineering and refinements in stabilization. At its essence, rammed earth is the compaction of a calibrated … Read more
Building a cabin on a volcanic island, with unstable soil, constant humidity, and limited access to resources was quite a challenge for this man. The chosen area had dense vegetation, deep roots, and uneven soil, typical of volcanic regions. Before any construction, it was necessary to completely clear the space, remove natural obstacles, and select trees … Read more