Compressed earth blocks are a combination of soil, mechanical engineering, and high-density compression capable of transforming the ground of the construction site into structural blocks used to erect resistant, stable, and visually striking walls. The technology combines thermal efficiency with low emissions. Any soil with between 10% and 30% clay can work for producing compacted … Read more
The village of Kandovan in Iran is a tourist village that is famous for its scenic beauty and the fact that many of its homes have been made in caves located in cone-shaped rock-formation. The village looks somewhat like a gigantic termite colony. Some of these houses are at least 700 years old and still … Read more
Ebiobambu is a School of Bioarchitecture and Experimental Research and Technology Center for Bamboo in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro. They developed an approach that integrates agroforestry cultivation, research on construction techniques, and training of specialized labor. The main species used in Ebiobambu’s projects is Guadua bamboo. one of the best structural bamboos … Read more
I just got this email from Firespeaking Masonry Heaters and Wood Fired Ovens: Dear reader, This visual document we are publishing today is several years in the making and reflects our effort to help masonry heaters become more a part of vernacular building systems. Whether you are a homeowner, professional heater builder, or architect, it … Read more
In 1999, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake devastated Colombia’s coffee region. Concrete buildings collapsed. Brick houses turned to rubble. Bamboo constructions stood firm. The phenomenon was so perplexing to Colombian engineers that, in the following years, the country did what no other had done before: it included bamboo in its national seismic code as an official … Read more
A wall in Theopetra Cave in Greece was built during the Last Glacial Maximum, a period of extreme cold when much of Europe was blanketed in ice. Researchers believe early humans constructed it to partially seal the cave’s entrance, blocking freezing winds. Theopetra Cave offers a continuous archaeological record spanning 130,000 years, making it one … Read more