The Paddy Field Bookstore, located among paddy fields in the Xiadi village in China, is made from the remains of an abandoned house. Xiadi , which is over 800 years old, is in China’s Fujian province, which is close to the bordering island country of Taiwan. Rather than tearing down the village’s many dilapidated buildings, … Read more
The most relevant reinterpretations of ancient construction today are those that do so in the interest of sustainability, renouncing high-energy modern construction methods in favor of older, more natural techniques. The ancient Egyptian Nubian vault is making a resurgence in Sahelian Africa. Population growth and rapid deforestation have made it difficult for people to continue … Read more
I have recently noticed several articles claiming that a much greater use of wood for constructing urban buildings, rather than more industrial products, such as steel and concrete, would make a major impact on sequestering carbon, and thus help mitigate climate change. My first thought when I hear this is, “What about the affect of … Read more
Emma lives in the wild woods of Wales, where she is close to nature , with no running water, electricity, or internet. For Emma, this way of life is all about building a closer relationship to nature while also creating a lifestyle where she is free of the pressures of the modern world. Her simple … Read more
Andrew and Margo Hanson-Pierre from Clover Bee Farm in Schafer, Minnesota are building a solar greenhouse, which has a heat sink, something that will store the heat from the sun during the day and release that heat at night. The floor is made of 4-foot-deep river rock, but people also use large barrels of water … Read more
Nonprofit Critical Concrete aims to refurbish spaces that are shared by low-income communities in Portugal. They also try to educate the local community on sustainable and earth-friendly practices. The organization promotes green architecture through a summer school program that refurbishes a home for a family in need every year. Last year 32 students from 20 … Read more