“Preserving dry stone walls in buildings is an opportunity to promote Cyprus as a model of sustainable development, strengthen the local economy through the creation of new jobs and keep the island’s cultural heritage alive,” interior ministry secretary Ellikos Elia said. “The technique embodies ingenuity, endurance and harmony with the natural environment.” “In Cyprus, dry … Read more
When we talk about sustainable housing, we rarely talk about how to prove that. The construction industry is one of the most polluting sectors on the planet. While both expensive and inefficient, it is responsible for up to 40% of global solid waste. Despite widespread talk of “green building,” real data is often hard to … Read more
Elementerre is a Senegalese company founded with the mission of revolutionizing the construction sector using sustainable, locally sourced materials. Established in 2010, the company has made rammed earth its primary material, offering it as an ecological and long-lasting alternative to conventional building materials. Using compressed earth blocks, produced by mixing local soil with a small … Read more
I recently got this email from Connor McKenzie who works with Modern Mill: “I enjoyed your recent article on using rice husks for compressed earth blocks and thought you’d be interested in another innovation: a Mississippi company that’s turning rice hulls into tree-free siding, trim, decking, millwork and more. Modern Mill has developed a building … Read more
“Biomaterials” are materials made using biological matter, and some engineers and designers are turning to them for their “visual richness”, alongside their eco-credentials. A growing number of people around the world are exploring ways living organisms and their products can be integrated into our built environment – from algae-based bricks to straw or fungi wall … Read more
A climate-resilient city can predict, withstand and recover from climate-related hazards — storms, heatwaves, floods — while maintaining its essential functions and keeping its population safe. Key attributes include a robust infrastructure, renewable energy integration, natural buffers like parks and wetlands, and proactive city planning. These are some of the factors that cities use to anticipate, … Read more