Known as Whipbird Gully, this property in Australia includes multiple dwellings, paddocks and fruit orchards nestled among pristine riverfront bushland. The owners have lived there for 46 years and they have dedicated much of that time rewilding the sprawling property, which now serves as a valuable wildlife corridor and a haven for threatened plants and animals. … Read more
In the Black Forest of Colorado is a unique Earthship. Walls and floors are a custom adobe blend designed as a heat sink, with much of it filled into 1,500 old tires and 11,000 aluminum cans that add structural support. There are also PV panels that deliver up to 20 kilowatts of solar electricity. The … Read more
This earth-sheltered property in Ohio is built almost entirely under the ground, with a roof that provides spectacular protection from the elements, but does require the odd trim now and then. About 90% of it is underground, built into the side of a hill and then covered witb dirt. The interior is very much that … Read more
Eight leading architects explain where their architectural ambition is heading. We explore how these buildings use less energy, generate power, support biodiversity, and respond to a hotter, more unpredictable climate. For Norman Foster, environmental thinking is hardly new. He has explored energy, climate, natural ventilation, and resource efficiency since the practice’s early projects, when such … Read more
The Homestead House is a conceptual design that takes the prefabricated steel arch building system ordinarily found on agricultural properties, and reorganizes it into a modular, off-grid residential structure. The system is already commercially available, already engineered for structural strength, and already fire-resistant. The arches and straight panels are formed from thin, recyclable steel sheets … Read more
This 18th-century barn, recently converted to a home, is set within approximately three acres of gardens. The barn itself has two-feet deep walls and is insulated with hemp and lime, providing natural insulation and breathability. The walls are clay-painted, enhancing air quality and creating an organic aesthetic. The property also boasts double-glazed timber windows, a … Read more