Building a cabin on a volcanic island, with unstable soil, constant humidity, and limited access to resources was quite a challenge for this man. The chosen area had dense vegetation, deep roots, and uneven soil, typical of volcanic regions. Before any construction, it was necessary to completely clear the space, remove natural obstacles, and select trees … Read more
This rustic cabin was built almost entirely with materials found in the forest environment itself. The project demonstrates how traditional techniques, when properly applied, result in a stable, durable shelter that is fully integrated into the landscape. The structure has an efficient indoor microclimate, balancing temperature, natural ventilation and thermal comfort throughout the day. The construction … Read more
The Great Mosque of Djenné, located in Mali, exists thanks to a delicate balance between mass, geometry and continuous human intervention. Rebuilt in its current form in 1907 on older foundations, the mosque occupies a roughly square floor plan, approximately 75 meters (246 ft.) on each side, forming a compact volume that dominates the flat … Read more
In 2021, Mathieu Munsch walked away from the “normal” script— rent, bills, loans, a regular job— and headed for a sloping meadow in northeast France to build something radically simple: a small home made from the earth under his feet, wood from nearby, and straw bales from local farmers. He kept it to 50 m² … Read more
This video shows how one man can build his own home in the woods without the use of modern fasteners and other building materials. He is ingenious in his creation of a lifting apparatus and other tools. This project was a real test of strength, patience and faith in one’s own hands. You can watch … Read more
I recently got this email from Tim Kring: “Hi Kelly, I built this round structure loosely around the round house studio plan. The base wall is stabilized adobe using approximately 8% Portland cement and earth bag tubes from Cal earth. Once the wall was above knee high I switched to traditional Adobe block . I … Read more