Tono Mirai Architects of Japan completed Tioletowa in Miyoshi City as an example of recycled, regenerative architecture. The main idea behind the toilet project is the circle of life: ‘Everything comes from the earth and eventually returns to it.’ The rammed-earth building embodies this philosophy through its use of recycled materials and its wastewater treatment … Read more
Nigeria’s housing deficit currently stands at about 28 million units and it will take an investment of about $47 billion over 20 years to meet the country’s housing demand. Currently Nigeria imports 90% of the materials used in construction across the country. This fact, along with the foreign currency crisis in the country, makes housing … Read more
The first step to cutting construction costs is “affordability by design,” which means ensuring the basic blueprint of a building is optimized to minimize costs from the outset. Biologist Carl Bergmann noticed that larger animals tended to live in colder climates, where their size helps them retain heat more efficiently. This observation suggests that larger … Read more
As a renewable and often local material, wood and bamboo are top contenders for low carbon buildings that consider a sustainable future. The works below explore some designs that employ these materials, by architects from around the globe pushing the material to some interesting possibilities. Knarvik Community Church, Knarvik, Norway, 2014. Photo: Hundven-Clements Photography Nestled … Read more
The Cape is a residential community located in southern Victoria, Australia that boasts 130 homes that all feature passive solar, solar power and rainwater harvesting, as well as EV charging infrastructure. The residences are purposely designed for year-round comfort, oriented to maximize natural light and ventilation. Strait House (pictured above) is designed for the Australian … Read more
“Sun Shelter” is a 60 sqm (646 sf) tiny house in Ceará, Brazil. The shelter embodies a cozy retreat from the intense Brazilian sun in the rural hinterlands. The construction process involved the use of rammed earth and wattle and daub techniques. A key challenge was preserving the scenic views while mitigating solar exposure, achieved … Read more