The recently opened El Perdido Hotel in El Pescadero, Mexico, utilizes traditional construction materials of the region. Time-honored materials like rammed earth, thatched roofs, and Palo de Arco wood were used throughout, using only locally sourced materials and working with local artisans. The architects, Estudio ALA, began with a climate analysis. “We always try to … Read more
Nido (meaning “bird’s nest” in Italian) is a tiny cabin with a 100-square-foot floor plan to meet Finland’s zoning laws that do not require a building permit for houses with a floor plan between 96 and 128 square feet. Robin Falck, of Helsinki, constructed his very own “compact getaway” deep in the woods, using mostly … Read more
The Native Americans who occupied the area known as Poverty Point in northern Louisiana more than 3,000 years ago long were highly skilled engineers capable of building massive earthen structures that have withstood the test of time. It has been believed that they were simple hunters and gatherers, but new archaeological findings paint a very … Read more
A Colorado Airbnb known as Wonder Haus seems to enchant all who visit. The owners, Adrian and Jeff Young, dreamed of creating an off-the-grid “mountain haven” with an arched glass-sided structure to feel immersed with the outdoors. First they bought an existing passive solar earth house that was built to satisfy the former owner’s love … Read more
If you go to www.messynessychic.com you will find a delightful array of archived photos of various kinds of shelter carved out of tree trunks, mostly from the giant sequoia found on the west coast of the U.S. There are also some descriptions of who created them and how they were used.
This Slovenian rammed earth house, topped by a green roof, was conceived by three architects as part of a competition. The lifted roof takes shape as a green canopy, blending the rammed earth house with the surrounding forest and protecting the rammed earth walls from water damage. The roof is used as a shading element, … Read more