‘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
This substantial old stone barn converted to a home has had many chapters in its long life and much of it is revealed by the building itself. The history goes back, in part, to medieval times and the interiors combine the past with the present. The late medieval origins for the building are indicated by … Read more
This hand crafted round-house is packed full of wonderful design features. It is surrounded by abundant permaculture food forest gardens and all of this has been accomplished on just a quarter acre section. Tim and Carmen have built this round house to maximize the function of the home while minimizing its impact on the surrounding … Read more
The Kasbah Taourirt is mostly made of rammed earth and mud brick. It is a fortified residence complex that overlooks Ouarzazate in south-central Morocco, which is often called “the door of the desert”. It is one of the best-preserved examples of this kind of earthen building, with three stories, balconies and big rectangular towers at … Read more
During the California heat wave of 1906, Baldassare Forestiere dug a home underground with just a pickax and shovel. He spent 40 years excavating 10 acres of rooms, tunnels, a chapel, an underground aquarium, and courtyards to experiment with underground farming. With no budget, he mixed mortar from the dirt he dug out, creating his … 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