Massachusetts architect Malcolm “Mac” Wells said, “We are paving and roofing this country to death.” As the environmental movement was gaining steam in the United States, he swore off contemporary design in favor of energy-efficient subterranean dwellings. It is estimated that as many as 2,000 Wells-inspired “earth-sheltered” homes, or earth homes, were constructed in the … Read more
Under the guidance of the German master-builder Jörg Stamm, folks at Bamboo U, a build and design course in Bali, have created a bamboo yurt which can fold like an umbrella and be deployed in an instant. The yurt’s frame is made from bamboo of the Phyllostachys species, referred to in Bali as Bambu Jajang. … Read more
A Lord of the Rings inspired holiday let is up for sale. This hobbit hole shaped home, part of multi-award winning business, was completed in 2018. While it may look like something from the Shire, the underground building – called Pod Hollow – is part of the West Stow Pods glamping site, near Bury St … Read more
Rex Hohlbein and his daughter, Jenn LaFrenier, are both architects in the Seattle area. In this TEDx video they present a novel approach to reducing homelessness. They suggest that we should “reimagine our personal space by inviting homeless residents to move into beautifully designed, off-grid, homes built in residential backyards.” Called “The Block Project” these … Read more
I recently got this email from Cato Arce in Mexico: This is Cato Arce, founder of Moradas Verdes in Mexico. We have been in touch before regarding Earthbag Building and the work I’ve been doing in Mexico. Like you, I am still busy working, promoting, and building with earthbags. I have been busy sharing and … Read more
Fair Companies has assembled a wonderful collection of video segments that offer advice from many parts of the world. For some, preparing for the unexpected has been a way of life for years. We visit (via their cameras) permaculture farmers in Tulsa, Oklahoma growing much of their food in backyard hoop houses, a rainwater harvester … Read more