From initial idea to completion, this article will provide you with valuable insights to begin your bamboo building project, from the perspective of Bamboo U. To begin any successful building project, clearly defining your project goals and objectives is crucial. Determine the purpose of your bamboo building, whether it’s a home, a community hub, or … Read more
‘Rainy Hill Retreat’ is a four-bedroom mud brick bungalow surrounded by bird life and landscaped gardens near Melbourne, Australia. Natural light pours into the open living, kitchen and dining areas thanks to the 7m-high ceilings and glass foyer entry. Whitewashed mud bricks and timber posts are consistent finishes throughout the home as well as the … Read more
SunRay Kelley, the barefoot builder of fantastical handmade castles, yurts, temples, spirit lodges, tree houses, etc., died on July 16 in Sedro-Woolley, Wash. He was 71. I first met SunRay at one of the Natural Building Colloquia, and you can read an article I wrote about this at greenhomebuilding.com. Bonnie Howard, Mr. Kelley’s longtime partner, … Read more
This year’s Venice Architecture Biennale has as its theme “The Laboratory of the Future.” The laboratory part of the title suggests experimentation and radical rethinking. The National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia shows a series of more traditional yet still alluring spaces with arches on either side of a rectangular central room that feels almost cave-like and … Read more
This article shines a light on four commonly employed structural systems in bamboo construction: The support system of a post and beam structure is composed of three key elements: vertical posts, horizontal beams, and cross-bracing. The latter helps to triangulate the structure, enhancing its stability against lateral loads such as winds and seismic forces. Usually, … Read more
Thousands of people in Puerto Rico were still living under blue tarps three years after Hurricane Maria struck the island, and more than 30,000 families asked the government for assistance after the storm destroyed or damaged their homes. This is why Paula Paoli and Owen Ingley are in Las Marías, Puerto Rico, and hope to … Read more