You have probably noticed that terms related to “sustainability” are tossed about rather freely these days, and it is often hard to know how appropriate they might be. The concept of “sustainability” originated in German forestry circles around 1713, and is ubiquitous today whenever there is a call to action amid the threat of an … Read more
Hemp mixed with lime can create a low-carbon, more climate friendly building material than concrete. “There’s an enormous growth potential in the US for hemp fiber used for building and insulation,” said Kaja Kühl, founder of youarethecity, a design and building practice. “Hemp was only legalized in 2018, but now industrial hemp is following the … Read more
A home made of earthbags in Johns Town, Jamaica, is setting an example for sustainable living. It’s part of a group of largely self-sufficient residences called The Source Farm Foundation and Ecovillage. The home gets 70% of its energy from solar and wind, and the owner says, “People kept coming in our house to see … Read more
Plentitud’s Bioconstruction team has demonstrated that spaces of delight can be created with accessible and affordable materials. They started with an existing metal structure with a zinc roof that served as shelter from the rain for several tents, but they wanted something that could provide more protection and comfort to their staff and visitors. They … Read more
The Fab Tree Hab is a grafted living tree structure intended to be shared by people and animals. It combines tree-grafting techniques with cross-laminated timber arch scaffolds. The goal is for a dwelling seamlessly integrated into its natural landscape and to replace harmful industrial materials with durable, bio-based alternatives. Foundation elements use almost no concrete … Read more
Located near Mumbai, India, this 557 sq. m (6,000 sq. ft.) farmhouse was entirely designed with environmental consciousness by integrating biophilic design, passive climatology principles and construction technology. It consists of a free-flowing living room, kitchen, dining room, three courtyards, glass bottle floor, pond, bedrooms, toilets and pantry. Most of the spaces are shaped according … Read more