Mike Oehler Talks About His Underground Homes

Mike Oehler lived for over 30 years in an underground home that he built for $50 (and expanded for $500) on his land in Northern Idaho near the Canadian border. Now in his seventies his arthritis keeps him from hiking up to his home, but he continues to “write and proselytize” In 1968 like thousands … Read more

A Community Meeting Place in Belgium

Students at Hasselt University in Belgium built a pavilion and an outdoor earth oven as communal gathering spaces. The structures are located in the garden of an abandoned vicarage. The design process prioritized natural and reclaimed materials. It serves as a model for architecture that integrates environmental considerations with social engagement. The design team collaborated … Read more

A Hawaiian Dream Homestead

About 40 years ago, William bought 1.25 acres for $6000 on the Big Island of Hawaii and began growing his own food and building his own shelters. He was inspired to leave his native Wisconsin for a place where it would be easier to live off the land.  Today he lives with only solar power … Read more

A Tiny Cabin in Ecuador’s lush Andean Forest

Architect Janna Lasso Hadweh designed this cabin 24 square meter (259 sf)cabin within Ecuador’s lush Andean region. It is barely visible from the road, blending into its natural surroundings behind a river stone wall and dense vegetation. Its minimalist design, features dark metal, charred wood, and glass. Elevated atop nine metal stilts, the dwelling is … Read more

Restoring an Old Stone Home in Spain

Several years ago Kirsten Dirksen’s family embarked on a project where they found a derelict (and affordable) country home located in a tiny, well-maintained castle hamlet 1 hour outside Barcelona, Spain. They began renovation with the help of a young architecture studio. Can a home remodel celebrate the layers of past, present, and future? Do … Read more

Bamboo U’s Dapur Naga in Bali

Dapur Naga, located within the lush tropical environment of Bali, serves as a communal kitchen and dining space, capable of hosting more than 50 people. The main conceptual inspiration for Dapur Naga came from the graceful form of a whirling Sufi skirt, reflected in the building’s undulating roof. The roof is designed to capture stunning … Read more