Traditional mud houses in Kenya have largely been abandoned because most Kenyans now prefer modern materials and architectural designs. But a few designers are trying to revitalize these old-style houses by infusing them with contemporary elements and enhanced features. Boss Yator, a construction expert, recently shared some images of an enhanced mud house that has … Read more
CLEZOL is a Rwandan construction company that specialized in rammed earth and compressed stabilized earth blocks. The company was created by three Rwandan civil engineers who worked on the construction project of Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture, before they came up with the idea to create their own company. “As the world is focusing on … Read more
Architect Dylan Johnson with his longtime friend and Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard designed and built a straw bale home in the suburbs of Ventura, California. The straw is leftover from wheat, rice, or barley crops as the main structural element or insulation in a building. “There’s an enormous amount of money to be made with … Read more
In 2013, Jay Thakkar discovered a traditional wood and stone building with a slight tilt in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. When he asked a local villager about it, he responded, “Sir, the house tilted when the earth moved. It will move back once the earth shifts again.” Thakkar, an associate professor at the … Read more
David and Carrie Chew live in a house made of straw. It has two bathrooms, a modern kitchen and a packed earthen floor. The exterior walls are made with stacked wheat straw bales covered in plaster. Proponents of modern straw-bale construction highlight the sustainability of sourcing materials from local farms and natural insulation provided by … Read more
I just got this news from Good Earth Global: This summer, we welcomed 38 enthusiastic high school students with their teachers from Nether Stowe, Francis Holland, Southam College, UK to Nepal for a life-changing experience. They participated in a service trip and built an earthquake-resistant and sustainable Earthbag house for single mother Kamala and her … Read more