An Efficient Off-Grid Home in Kentucky

Daryl and Maria Cleary were living in a four-bedroom, 4,000-square-foot home when they decided it was time to downsize. “It was too much house for two people,” Maria said. The Clearys knew they wanted their home to be energy-efficient. They found a house plan that they liked and purchased it, increasing the square footage, and … Read more

Bamboo U’s Dapur Naga in Bali

Dapur Naga, located within the lush tropical environment of Bali, serves as a communal kitchen and dining space, capable of hosting more than 50 people. The main conceptual inspiration for Dapur Naga came from the graceful form of a whirling Sufi skirt, reflected in the building’s undulating roof. The roof is designed to capture stunning … Read more

Benefits of Earth Sheltered Homes

Pete Bissonette has one of the about 650 homes Earth Sheltered Technology has built since it began in 1981. The company has houses in Minnesota and Wisconsin as well as in California and Alaska. “I loved every bit of building it,” Bissonette said. “I’m glad I made the decision to build it. I have no … Read more

Building the Future From the Ground Up

A new book, Building the Future; From the Ground Up, follows rammed earth specialist Paul Geraets’ journey as he masters this sustainable construction method on more than 100 projects across New Zealand, while on a mission to show how more rammed earth houses could change the building industry for the better. “Not only are these … Read more

Resurrecting a Ghost Village in Portugal

Pedro Pedrosa and his wife Sofia left city life over a decade ago to live in a mostly-abandoned farming village in Central Portugal. After creating their home from several small outbuildings, they continued to experiment with local building materials- cork, pine, lime, and slate- by transforming three stone storage sheds into “Nature Houses.” Their town, … Read more

A Natural Belgian Garden Studio

Belgian studio Van Laethem Architecten used natural materials including hempcrete and cedar shingles to create this small garden studio for its staff. Located in the rear garden of the founder’s home, the building acts as both a workspace and a demonstration of the studio’s approach to using bio-based materials. The office is situated next to … Read more