The Kul Kul Farm and Bamboo U in Bali

Promoting values that respect and care for the Earth while strengthening community bonds, the Kul Kul Farm has become a beacon of sustainability and connection with the natural environment. Maria and Orin started this project to inspire and empower both local Balinese and tourists to live a life connected to the natural world. Initially they … Read more

Ancient Fortress City in China

The ancient town of Anshun City in southwest China’s Guizhou Province has become a tourist attraction. These stone-structured residential buildings were built in the style of a fortress for resisting the enemy’s attacks in ancient times. In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), some troops were sent to Anshun, where they built villages and cultivated land for … Read more

Bamboo Design Around the World

Ibuku is a Bali-based studio headed by founder Elora Hardy and is a pioneer of bamboo architecture. This team of designers and architects is dedicated to exploring a variety of typologies – from homes to hotels, schools, and event spaces. Hardy recalls what attracted her to start working with the material: “I was searching for … Read more

Can Wood be Used to Self-Shape Structures?

Wood is inherently imprecise. Its grain reverses and swirls. Trauma and disease manifest in scars and knots. Instead of viewing these natural tendencies as liabilities, Achim Menges, an architect and professor at the University of Stuttgart in Germany, sees them as wood’s greatest assets. Menges and his team at the Institute for Computational Design and … Read more

Los Panchos Beach Housing in Mexico

Los Panchos in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, is a housing complex catering to surfers and beach lovers. The organic shell of the building features curved walls and fluid arches. Los Panchos maximizes views, solar orientation, and ventilation. Construction employs sustainable methods and locally sourced materials like wood, stone, and clay, emphasizing energy efficiency, and incorporating green building … Read more