At Cob Cottage Company in Oregon Kara Stiff trained in cob, an ancient technique using clay, sand and straw, with stone or recycled concrete for the foundation. They built rounded houses that seemed right out of a fairy tale, using materials that were freely available just about everywhere, non-toxic, cozy and beautiful. There wasn’t a … Read more
The most relevant reinterpretations of ancient construction today are those that do so in the interest of sustainability, renouncing high-energy modern construction methods in favor of older, more natural techniques. The ancient Egyptian Nubian vault is making a resurgence in Sahelian Africa. Population growth and rapid deforestation have made it difficult for people to continue … Read more
Emma lives in the wild woods of Wales, where she is close to nature , with no running water, electricity, or internet. For Emma, this way of life is all about building a closer relationship to nature while also creating a lifestyle where she is free of the pressures of the modern world. Her simple … Read more
I got an email this morning from Clay Greathouse who is beginning to build an earthbag house for his family in Cochise County, Arizona. He writes, “Cochise County offers a Building Inspection Opt-Out , which we are taking advantage of, but they are trying to change this, so a # of us folks are working … Read more
Justin & Linda Tyers bought a lot in the Exmoor National Park for £50k, which left them a budget of £67k to build a beautiful, off-grid, timber-frame, straw bale home. A truly inspirational self build. You can watch the video at www.youtube.com
Braelyn and James are two artists who poured their creativity into this beautiful DIY tiny house build. For just under $60,000 CAD they built a 32-foot tiny house with two staircases, two patio doors, and two king-sized lofts with a bridge connecting them. The interior design was inspired by Mykonos Island in Greece, which is … Read more