Surrounded by lush paddy fields and mountain peaks Chiang Mai, is a coffee shop that resembles a rice barn, drawing on northern Thai vernacular architecture. Nature plays a prominent role as the ever-changing seasons and climate shape its appearance. Visitors are invited to dine in the open-air in the space tucked between its two wooden … Read more
Lola Ben-Alon sloshes water into a tray of dirt and plunges her fingers into the muck. She smears it between her hands to see if it cakes on her skin, then mashes it into a sticky lump. “You need to know how much clay is in the soil,” she says. “That’s the first criterion for … Read more
Concerned about indoor air quality, Neil Decker and Stella Michaels wanted their home to be chemical-free, so they decided to build it out of hempcrete (hemp, lime, and sand). The couple didn’t think they could afford to live in California but found a rundown property in Gold Rush old country on the Western Slope of … Read more
CLEZOL is a Rwandan construction company that specialized in rammed earth and compressed stabilized earth blocks. The company was created by three Rwandan civil engineers who worked on the construction project of Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture, before they came up with the idea to create their own company. “As the world is focusing on … Read more
Architect Dylan Johnson with his longtime friend and Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard designed and built a straw bale home in the suburbs of Ventura, California. The straw is leftover from wheat, rice, or barley crops as the main structural element or insulation in a building. “There’s an enormous amount of money to be made with … Read more
Childhood friends Mariama Djambony Badji and Papa Mafall Diop were both fascinated by buildings and how they are constructed, and they dreamed of starting a company together. “I initially wanted to study architecture, but then I studied civil engineering, like Mafall,” Badjj explained. “Despite going to different universities, we always stayed in touch,” Badjj explained. … Read more