With walls made from old tires packed with earth, as well as upcycled glass bottles and cans, Earthships have always been built with mainly found materials. The home provides its own energy (with photovoltaics, passive solar and geothermal tubes), water (rainwater and even dew-water capture) and grows food in the greenhouse (necessary for temperature regulation … Read more
The ‘Xiangyuxiangyuan Home Stay’ in China combines old and new construction into a hospitality complex reflecting local culture and beliefs. The project comprises the restoration of three ancestral houses built in different times with the addition of two new buildings. Instead of repairing the old buildings the architects have inserted contemporary spatial elements where repair … Read more
Michael Henry, who co-authored Essential Natural Plasters wrote an extensive article titled At Home with Natural Plasters that was published in the current issue of Mother Earth News. He delves into a description of traditional techniques and why they are often superior to more modern wall treatments. The article features his own recipe for a … Read more
In Phuket, Thailand the Keemala Eco Resort is an exclusive retreat tucked into a lush hilly landscape overlooking the Andaman Sea. The lodging options were inspired by the legend of four fictitious clans that began to form individual communities, “all the while being helpful and respectful of one another.” The guiding philosophy of the resort … Read more
Architect, artist, designer Julio Garcia had been designing plans for shipping container homes for a decade before he found the perfect place to build one: on a long, narrow stretch of his property in Savannah, Georgia. “I’m a big believer we should be adapting to the environment… I remember walking out and looking at the … Read more
I recently received the email quoted below from Matt Anderson. He writes about the new documentary that he has just released titled What’s a Colloquium? I watched the film and can heartily recommend that you watch it as well. Most of the video was shot during the last Natural Building Colloquium that I attended at … Read more