What if architecture didn’t just exist in nature, but behaved like it? That’s the provocation behind BIOTOPIA: Propagative Structures, the visionary installation by The Why Factory and artist Federico Díaz at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. The project imagines a future in which biology becomes the basis of design, and our cities are not just … Read more
As the price of home ownership and even traditional rental units continues to skyrocket in many areas across the country, more and more people are turning to alternative solutions. Things like tiny homes, shipping containers, and even granny flats are becoming increasingly common. In many cases, these smaller homes can be found on the same … Read more
Ellen Snortland and her husband have now lost a home to fire, another to flooding and another to a mudslide — and they’re tired of fighting the elements. “We are going to have to deal with extreme weather for the rest of our lives. To pretend otherwise is really folly,” she said. “I don’t see … Read more
Scientists in Germany have successfully turned urine into bio-concrete, as part of a project aiming to revolutionize sustainable construction by creating building materials from waste. The Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design at the University of Stuttgart, utilized microbial biomineralization, a biotechnological process where bacteria convert urea found in urine into calcium carbonate crystals. … Read more
Thirty years ago, a group of permaculture experts purchased 329 acres of degraded land in Western North Carolina with a vision: to restore the landscape while creating a new model of communal living. What began as an experiment in living well off the land has grown into one of the nation’s oldest cohousing communities, where … Read more
Compressed earth blocks (CEBs) are becoming more popular as a sustainable building material. They’re made mostly from soil and water, and can be produced with minimal environmental impact. But on their own, they often don’t meet the structural requirements for modern construction. Typically, reinforcements (like natural fibers) or stabilizers (like lime or cement) are added … Read more