Ross and Kristin Ulibarri live in a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Valverde Commons, a senior co-housing community within walking distance of historic Taos Plaza in New Mexico. Its sculpted adobe-style exterior makes it look like a traditional Southwestern dwelling. The house has triple-glazed windows and air-tight insulation, so it rarely needs any heating beyond the … Read more
Solar Adobe: Energy, Ecology & Earthen Architecture by Albert Narath was published this year by the University of Minnesota Press and would be a fine addition to any architectural library. The book focuses on the history of earthen building, mainly in the United States, and primarily during the Twentieth Century. Much attention is placed on … Read more
Idaho Springs, Colorado plans to restore of the Powder House, which the mayor refers to as a “hidden gem” owned by the city for over 100 years The property is now set to become a city park. It was built in the 1880s and acquired by the city of Idaho Springs in a tax lien … Read more
Sally Bennett spent eight years building an environmentally friendly shed using cob. She learned how to combine subsoil clay, sand, and straw and tread them before placing them on her wall. After retiring earlier than planned in 2023, the 69-year-old suddenly had much more time to devote to the process. Sally held an unveiling of … Read more
The School of Constructive Arts is a field school teaching regenerative design, building, and ecology through direct observation, participation, and experimentation. Their approach integrates ancestral knowledge of natural materials and energy with advancing technology and contemporary building techniques to derive sustainable models of living for our time. They are building a campus in the Big … Read more
The second home on Maui, Hawaii using hempcrete for wall construction has been completed. Hempcrete is not only fire, mold and termite resistant, it’s also non-toxic, sound insulating, energy efficient, and absorbs carbon dioxide from the air. The owner, Jon Woodhouse, says, “Walking into my home, you can feel the difference compared to conventional home … Read more