Jikyeong bought a deralict property that had been stripped back by a previous owner and renovation work had stalled before it had really begun. Many of the surrounding dry-stone walls had started to collapse. Jikyeong says, “Ever since moving to England in 2000, I had dreamed of owning a traditional Yorkshire stone house, There is … Read more
Andrew Lunetta saw the same pattern over and over while working at homeless shelters in Syracuse, New York. Men would leave, move into the cheapest housing available, and soon return looking for a bed. After nearly a decade, the lesson was clear to him: People were not failing at housing; housing was failing them. Lunetta … Read more
For most of her adult life, Arielle Crawford has focused on sustainability and holistic living. She taught sustainable manufacturing and made sure to eat organic foods and wear natural, breathable fibers whenever possible. Still, she didn’t give much thought to the apartment she lived in—until the COVID-19 pandemic hit. “I saw the walls and thought, … Read more
Modern construction uses smart science to create spaces that are better for the planet. New materials are replacing old methods that caused too much waste. These changes help homeowners save money on repairs and monthly costs. Choosing the right supplies makes a big difference in how a house feels and functions over many decades. Eco-friendly … Read more
Jeannette Kuo: Both of you have been questioning standardized materials that have dominated the industry and rethinking what we can do better in our means of production. Some of this involves revisiting more traditional ways of building that have been forgotten or are not as common these days. I’m curious about the challenges you’ve come … 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