The on-going fire storm in Australia has sparked new interest in ways to build more fire resistant houses. Architect Sean O’Bryan, who designs “earth sheltered” homes has been inundated with requests since the bushfire crisis escalated. “I’ve had about 20 emails since Christmas and a lot are from people who have had houses burnt down,” … Read more
I got an email this morning from Clay Greathouse who is beginning to build an earthbag house for his family in Cochise County, Arizona. He writes, “Cochise County offers a Building Inspection Opt-Out , which we are taking advantage of, but they are trying to change this, so a # of us folks are working … Read more
Anzhenbao is a 19-century residential building, in Yong’an, southeast China’s Fujian Province. Construction of Anzhenbao started in 1885 and took 14 years to complete. The massive rammed earth building has more than 360 rooms, with some 6,000 square meters of floor space. This residential complex resembles another tradition in China that I wrote about in … Read more
Lindsey Andersen of Wonder Domes is building an Off Grid Sustainable Earth Bag Artist Community in the desert of Joshua Tree, California. A California native, Lindsey spent 12 years in NYC producing theater & film, acting, writing music, animating and making art. She now lives in a 1975 Winnebago in the high Mojave building free … Read more
Avid blog reader Phil Dodd wrote, “Are you aware that in mid-Wales, UK, a sustainable-living practitioner is now coming to the end of his second earthbag build on his land? Kris Harbour has now nearly finished building a large workshop with earthbag walls, and a turfed timber roof. One of the notable features of the … Read more
Architect Vinu Daniel of Wallmakers is focused primarily on sustainability. Using mainly mud blocks, rammed earth and burnt bricks he designs spaces in their raw, natural state. He met the legendary Laurie Baker while studying architecture. “Baker made me understand that a building can co-exist with nature and be built with minimal wastage.” For awhile … Read more