A Unique Colorado Wonder Haus

Known as the “Wonder Haus,” this home is nestled into the earth for maximum energy efficiency and has a four-story tower. The design was modeled after the Anasazi Tribe’s stargazing practices. Located on almost seven acres in Pagosa Springs, CO, it has been a wildly successful short-term vacation rental for the current owners. Its eye-catching … Read more

3D Printing with Hemp

An Australian biotechnology company known as Mirreco has recently shared its plans to 3D print hemp homes. They have developed a way to produce hemp panels which can be used in both residential and commercial building projects. They say that these 3D printed panels are structurally sound, easy to produce, and provide superior thermal performance. … Read more

A Round Straw-Clay Studio in Michigan

On a rural farm near Bear Lake, Michigan, builder Thomas Hirsch and architectural designer Ellis Wills Begley are embracing sustainable methods by incorporating materials like straw-clay insulation, black locust wood, and foamed glass aggregate. The studio they are building is in a circular form because round shapes are inherently natural and create a sense of … Read more

Embracing Circularity Through Reclaimed Building Materials

Kelley Lowe is a passionate environmentalist. Her interest in creating a sustainable future for material culture drew her to the work of Re:Purpose Savannah, where she is helping to build a regional market for reclaimed lumber. Learn more about why she is an ardent supporter of deconstruction and recycled building materials, and why this practice … Read more

The Norwegian Folk Museum

For thousands of years survival in Norway’s countryside, where farms were miles from each other, meant complete self-sufficiency. Farmsteads were like small villages with several families living together and building their homes from logs and turf. At Oslo’s Norwegian Folk Museum, entire farmsteads have been transplanted log-by-log by master carpenters who use traditional joinery techniques … Read more