Architectural design educator Stewart Hicks explains how the Paul Schweikher House and Studio was designed for passive solar heating and cooling. Schweikher used natural materials to construct what Hicks calls a “direct gain passive solar system,” whose openings and overhangs are “positioned so that it lets in winter sun, while blocking the summer sun,” which … Read more
Freya’s House is an off-grid green building that showcases multiple natural building techniques from straw bale, cob, and rammed earth walls, to earthen floors, a green roof, and reclaimed, salvaged and locally sourced materials. It uses solar power for electricity, a legal composting toilet, and on-site greywater filtration. The house is located at O.U.R Ecovillage … Read more
Reset Materials is an exhibition in Copenhagen that features architectural fragments made from 10 different low-carbon materials, including earth, biocement, mycelium, silicon and straw, hempcrete, aerated concrete, recycled plastic, waste wood and plant fibers. The exhibition is the result of 10 collaborations between artists and architects to explore how these materials might be used in … Read more
Stone is strong, plentiful and fireproof, as well as beautiful. Using stone requires low levels of energy and low emissions of greenhouse gases. It is one of the most ancient building materials known to humanity, the stuff of dolmens and temples and cathedrals. Unfortunately stone has been supplanted in the industrial era by steel, concrete … Read more
Melburnians Sarah Corbet and David Bruce bought a 7.5 acre block of land in central Victoria with plans for their future retirement and a slower paced life. They engaged Altereco Design to design the house, ideally to be made with hempcrete. Sarah and David requested a ‘warm design’ that was functional as well as beautiful. … Read more
Manisha Lath Gupta and her family wanted to live in an environment where they grow their produce, and living with nature meant living in a home built using natural materials. Aanandaa house is built using sustainable materials like rammed earth, stone, lime, brick, and traditional roofing systems. These materials were sourced locally and they hired … Read more