Regenerative Architecture on Sumu Island

On the island of Sumu Yakushima, Japan, designer Tsukasa Ono turned to regenerative architecture as his primary concept. An experimental housing cooperative jointly created by eight owners, this project in the woods was adapted to fit the surrounding landscape without cutting down large trees or leveling the ground; they raised the wooden buildings off from … Read more

Touring a Sufi Community in New Mexico

Yesterday I had a wonderful and rewarding experience of touring a nearby Sufi Community along with other members of our local Permaculture Group. We were invited there by Sequoia and Sunny to immerse ourselves  for a few hours in their nearly self-sufficient life. I was quite impressed by the extent of their accomplishments during the … Read more

The Casa Ballena Art Center in Los Cabos, Mexico

Casa Ballena is an art center designed for Mexican and international artists in Los Cabos, Mexico. Its design takes advantage of the topography in order to play with different heights and create a natural buffer that allows both views and private space. The earth that was removed to create the platforms was reused to build … Read more

Vertical Gardens for Small Spaces

Growing upward, or vertically, can help you make the most of your gardening space by utilizing the area above your garden plot or containers.  It is also good for better disease control on vining crops that need good air circulation. From hanging pockets to living walls and trellises these small garden ideas will make you … Read more

The Organic Architecture of Mickey Muennig

The longtime Big Sur residence of late architect Mickey Muennig comprises three curvaceous, glass-roofed structures situated on 30 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Muenning was a pioneer of California’s organic architecture movement; from the early 1970s, Muennig amassed a portfolio of striking houses with unconventional forms that frame scenic views and blend in with the … Read more

Intermediate House in Paraguay

Intermediate House in Paraguay, designed by Equipo de Arquitectura, is a fusion between the inside and outside, light and shadow, natural and artificial. A vaulted roof made with compressed earth blocks covered by a thin layer of concrete rests on floor-to-ceiling furniture, making up the perimeter of the property. The favorite space in this region … Read more