Traditional reed bridges in the Himalayan Nepal are similar to those in the Andes, showing how people on opposite sides of the planet living in similar circumstances come up with the same building solutions. Does this resemblance stem from people designing similar structures because of similar topography, or is it because the indigenous people of … Read more
Near Hudson, N.Y., a Princeton University team has erected a cottage made almost entirely of straw, which they said is more sustainable than bricks or concrete. The cottage looks straight out of a children’s book but has some elegant, modern flourishes. Straw, which consists of the leftover stalks of cereal grains such as wheat and … Read more
Orientated to capture sweeping views this property brings together a rammed earth and timber residence with a lovely landscape. The home is arranged over multiple split levels. Rammed earth walls, slate flooring and timber detailing create a rural and solid feeling. The kitchen is fitted with timber cabinetry and benchtops. A sunken lounge forms a … Read more
In a village called Yul in India stands the Yabgo Dynasty Palace. It has a weathered wooden entrance guarded by a carved eagle, and it was built to endure. The ground floor is made up of spaces that speak of life lived simply. The kitchen has walls darkened by generations of smoke. There is a … Read more
Jeannette Kuo: Both of you have been questioning standardized materials that have dominated the industry and rethinking what we can do better in our means of production. Some of this involves revisiting more traditional ways of building that have been forgotten or are not as common these days. I’m curious about the challenges you’ve come … Read more
Once dismissed as purely vernacular, rammed earth is now considered a high-performance building material, capable of meeting contemporary structural demands while addressing urgent imperatives of climate resilience, sustainability, and human well-being. This transition is driven by advancements in geotechnical engineering and refinements in stabilization. At its essence, rammed earth is the compaction of a calibrated … Read more