Key Considerations for Building Affordable Housing

This is an article that Owen Geiger wrote about a decade ago that is still pertinent today: Community Organizing: – Encourage solutions that are based on local needs and resources. Emphasize local control, community building, collaboration, self-empowerment, and sustainable grassroots solutions. – Involve the whole community in the design and building process: men, women, children, … Read more

Down to Earth

I found a nice article about how Permaculture is taking root in India. “Australian-Indian couple Rosie Harding and Peter Fernandes, who run a verdant homestead in what is emerging as Goa’s hippest village, Assagao, aspire to make ‘growing your own food’ the norm in homes across the country. The bucolic charm of their humble stead … Read more

Examples of Brazilian Vernacular Architecture

The www.archdaily.com featured this informative article about Brazilian vernacular architecture. The regional expressions of a country’s culture are vital in helping us understand the relation between context and specific conditions of social manifestations. These nuances and singularities inside the realm of construction are translated into what can be called vernacular architecture. Although it has always existed, … Read more

Couple Builds Dome to Escape Mortgage Trap

Dismayed by the costs of home ownership in Australia, a West Australian couple is building their castle out of earth bags to escape the mortgage trap. Kate and Scott Ryan-Taylor made the decision to build with earthbags after realizing the conventional path to home ownership was too costly. The couple estimate their home will cost … Read more

Migrating Culture

MIGRATING CULTURE is an African/American design campaign creatively established in 2006 with key projects in Ghana, West Africa. The original concept  was to organize a consortium of artisans that would enable a cultural exchange both locally (Ghana) and worldwide. Its founder, Brandon Rogers, is based in Ghana and has a strong background in architectural design … Read more