Elementerre is a Senegalese company founded with the mission of revolutionizing the construction sector using sustainable, locally sourced materials. Established in 2010, the company has made rammed earth its primary material, offering it as an ecological and long-lasting alternative to conventional building materials. Using compressed earth blocks, produced by mixing local soil with a small … Read more
Meet Roan & Ivy, a vibrant couple living in neighboring tiny homes on their off-grid property in New Mexico. They bought their 2 acres and built both the earthbag home & shed tiny house for under $15k. Their alternative, simple lifestyle enables them to live frugally on their own terms while focusing on their passions, … Read more
Southern Oregon Climate Action Now launched its premier Green Business Recognition ceremony with a “green ribbon cutting” at a four-plex built out of straw bales in Ashland, Oregon. Lydia Doleman of Earth Dragon Natural Building said the company’s project was “to install the first multifamily straw bale building in Oregon. It’s got tons of unique … Read more
In Philippine mythology, Aman Sinaya is the revered goddess of the sea, wielding her power over the ocean and its inhabitants. This deity, therefore, serves as a fitting inspiration for the name of a sustainable beachfront home on the island of Mindanao known for its rollicking waves and white-sand beaches. Like a goddess facing the … Read more
A climate-resilient city can predict, withstand and recover from climate-related hazards — storms, heatwaves, floods — while maintaining its essential functions and keeping its population safe. Key attributes include a robust infrastructure, renewable energy integration, natural buffers like parks and wetlands, and proactive city planning. These are some of the factors that cities use to anticipate, … Read more
Carl Elefante’s Going for Zero: Decarbonizing the Built Environment on the Path to Our Urban Future broadens the horizon about how architecture can move toward a carbon-free future and achieve it. Elefante, who served as the 2018 National AIA president, writes about the valuable lessons that our built heritage can teach us. He is concerned … Read more