This is a fun, ecological retreat house surrounded by trees in the United Kingdom. Much of the material used was recycled or gathered locally. You can find out more about Ravendere Retreats at ravendere.co.uk You can watch the video at www.youtube.com
Avid blog reader Phil Dodd wrote, “Are you aware that in mid-Wales, UK, a sustainable-living practitioner is now coming to the end of his second earthbag build on his land? Kris Harbour has now nearly finished building a large workshop with earthbag walls, and a turfed timber roof. One of the notable features of the … Read more
Besides some of the obvious choices for ecological flooring, such as adobe or flagstone, there are a number of commercial products that you might consider. Hardwood is great for floors, but it is often not sustainably harvested. Materials like bamboo, renewable fibers, linoleum and others may be sustainably sourced, recyclable, or renewable. Bamboo flooring is … Read more
This Cannon Beach house, built in 2005, has a green roof planted in sedum and wild strawberries and is clad with cedar shakes. Architect Nathan Good’s clients wanted a home “that would be healthy to live in with a dramatically reduced impact on the environment.” Almost all of the wood was salvaged, wind fallen or … Read more
Traditional wood decking brings with it a number of negative environmental effects. Tropical hardwoods can contribute to rain forest deforestation and habitat degradation. Using sustainably sourced fast-growth timber from ethically managed plantations is a step in the right direction, but it can often be difficult to ensure that timber branded as sustainable is actually sourced … Read more
On a hill in an olive grove overlooking the sea and the monasteries of Mount Athos in the Mediterranean, Eva Sopeoglou designed a low-maintenance weekend home that reflects a season’s and a day’s evolving sunlight. The project is highly experimental and employs cutting-edge digital CAD/CAM technology in an innovative way. The design itself carefully considered … Read more