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
Near Hudson, N.Y., a Princeton University team has erected a cottage made almost entirely of straw, which they said is more sustainable than bricks or concrete. The cottage looks straight out of a children’s book but has some elegant, modern flourishes. Straw, which consists of the leftover stalks of cereal grains such as wheat and … 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
Once dismissed as purely vernacular, rammed earth is now considered a high-performance building material, capable of meeting contemporary structural demands while addressing urgent imperatives of climate resilience, sustainability, and human well-being. This transition is driven by advancements in geotechnical engineering and refinements in stabilization. At its essence, rammed earth is the compaction of a calibrated … Read more
This is a full tour of a cozy cob micro cabin built by Marie France Roy, a professional snowboarder from Canada. She wanted to build a home with natural and reclaimed materials so the main floor is built with cob – a mix of sand, clay, and straw – and the upper floor is built … Read more
A small home in Kenya has successfully used insulation panels grown from farm byproducts and fungal mycelium. A homeowner invested roughly 208 US dollars into these innovative mycelium building panels. This shows that affordable wall alternatives are achievable without relying on imported plastics or synthetic foams. Lightweight mycelium building panels can also reduce the number … Read more