Recently, Joe Trumpey and a group of students put the finishing touches on the first straw bale building on the University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus. Besides the straw, many recycled materials were used for the structure. The wood used in the building was sourced from campus trees that were dead or dying. “It’s very … Read more
A brown, earthy, two-storeyed building is made of mud from the site, lime, Acacia, bamboo and recycled bricks, doors and windows. The polished teak wooden flight of steps was purchased from a second-hand shop. The bathroom tiles were acquired from a store going out of business. The surrounding roofed verandah on the first floor protects … Read more
Bonnie’s new floating tiny house is a vision of extreme minimalism. It was designed for people who want to experience living with the bare necessities for a short period of time, and who want to enjoy the peacefulness of a quiet retreat on the water. Watch on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBza3byXEt0
Fungus-farming termites create their own air conditioning systems that circulate hot and cool air between their mound and the outside. High-resolution scanning technology and computer simulations were used to examine the microscopic structure of the external walls of African termite nests. In slabs that look solid to the naked eye, a network of tiny, interconnected … Read more
The Wow Hostel in Hualian,Taiwan is fabricated partly from reclaimed materials, giving it a quirky, youthful vibe. You can read the original article at inhabitat.com
This 120-year-old farmhouse is so energy efficient it puts some new-builds to shame. Hill House in Blacklion, Ireland, was restored with sustainability at its core.The restoration took nearly two years. Inside, the floor and internal walls were replaced. Designed so that it could be heated through passive solar means, the center of the house was … Read more