Passive Solar Greenhouses in Ladakh

Ladakh has a long and harsh winter season when temperatures hit as low as -30°C (-22°F). These long winters reduce the cropping season to barely four or five months in a year. Other factors include low precipitation largely in the form of heavy snowfall, high wind velocity, sparse plant density, thin atmosphere with high volumes … Read more

Bamboo Housing Around the World

Earl Forlales’ grandparents, like generations of Filipinos, lived in a “Bahay Kubo” — a traditional, boxy, single-story bamboo hut on stilts. “Filipinos have been using bamboo even before colonial times, for thousands of years,” he says. Realizing the Bahay Kubo could be adapted to create a contemporary home, Forlales began designing his own bamboo houses … Read more

Insu-ram Blocks Resemble Beetle Wings

Insu-ram is a system of assembling blocks inspired by the cells in the wing covers of certain beetles that allow internal air flow to circulate. Insu-ram both cools and insulates a space from external heat without the use of machinery. The external pattern of the block generates a micro-shading effect that reduces the solar contact … Read more

Architectural Studio Uses Old Tiles as Sun Breaks

Luigi Rosselli’s architectural studio in Sydney, Australia was built out of reclaimed construction materials, mostly scrap tiles. The studio pays tribute to two of the most prominent architects of the twentieth century: Le Corbusier and Carlo Scarpa. The facade is designed to serve as a permanent sun break, like an architectural form of embroidery created … Read more