A Historic Building is Transformed Into a Delightful Home

The local town store will always carry special significance for the owner of this imaginatively reborn house. What was once a 19th-century hub in Victoria, Australia is now the place she calls home. Historically, this was a very busy gold mining area with about 6000 people living in the town. But a fire went through … Read more

Building a Hyperadobe Homestead in Arizona

In Arizona’s high desert, Jonathan and Ashley Longnecker are building an off-grid homestead that relies on earth walls, solar power, rainwater catchment, and a lot of hands-on labor. Their project is a real-world test of whether a modern family can reduce consumption, live more independently, and build a home that works with a dry, demanding … Read more

A Couple Build a Cob House in Texas

For most of her adult life, Arielle Crawford has focused on sustainability and holistic living. She taught sustainable manufacturing and made sure to eat organic foods and wear natural, breathable fibers whenever possible. Still, she didn’t give much thought to the apartment she lived in—until the COVID-19 pandemic hit. “I saw the walls and thought, … Read more

A Rammed Earth and Natural Wood Homestead in Australia

Warrick Hill Farm in Australia is set across 40 hectares (99 acres) has been held and cherished by the same family for generations. At the heart of the property sits a custom-built rammed earth residence featuring soaring raked timber lined ceilings, with timber sourced directly from the property itself and a warmth that only natural … Read more

Using Natural Stone in Our Modern Environment

“Our planet is partly made of boiling magma and we’re standing on its dry crust,” says London-based architect and stone evangelist Amin Taha. “It’s available almost everywhere and we’re not going to run out of it any time soon.” Strong, fireproof, beautiful, and low in embodied carbon, stone is an ancient building material, used for … Read more

A Huge Rammed Earth House in Australia

Set across approximately 23 acres in the rolling landscape of Lower Chittering, Australia is a 4682 sq. ft. rammed-earth residence, with the proportions to comfortably accommodate a large family. Five oversized bedrooms include a substantial master suite with a walk-in robe and ensuite. The home’s centerpiece is an expansive open-plan living and dining area complemented … Read more