Dry-stone wallers perform an ancient, essential craft that has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years. From graphic designers to yoga instructors, more and more people are changing careers to learn the skill. In France, artisans now have access to a training school with a state-certified diploma, and public officials are keen to employ them for departmental … Read more
A group of engineers visited a remote mountain village tucked deep into Kashmir’s rural land. They came hoping to learn from what they found, and what they first noticed was an old, broken mud house, abandoned and half-swallowed by wild grass. The roof had caved in. Wooden beams, once solid and proud, were now warped … Read more
An odd doughnut-shaped structure, resembling a thatched UFO, rises from a field on the outskirts of a rural town in central Colombia. Bamboo lattice walls curve up from the ground to form its bulging shell, tapering to a central chimney where wisps of smoke waft into the sky. Through the mesh walls, it is possible … Read more
Eleven graduate students in the Historic Preservation program at the Pratt Institute of New York spent their Spring Break shoveling soil, straw, and sand into wheelbarrows, mixing buckets of lime plaster, and applying limewash on historic walls as part of an Adobe Preservation Workshop in Mesilla, NM. They were assisted by Adobe in Action, a … Read more
Here are some examples of mud houses in India that show us how ancient building techniques can be adapted to modern climate responsive homes. A Kanha-Inspired Bungalow In Raipur The owners wanted to take them back, at least in spirit, to the mud houses of Kanha. “We were clear that the home should serve as … Read more
I just received this Eulogy for Johnny Weiss, in loving memory of our dear friend, mentor, and solar pioneer, the founder of Solar Energy International (SEI). It is with a heavy heart that we are writing you today to honor the life and legacy of Johnny Weiss—a trailblazer in solar energy, a teacher to thousands, … Read more