The New Streat Hill House in England was built from recycled materials, including rubble from a burned-out bungalow that was on the site. When viewed from a distance, the home is intended to resemble two barns sitting on a meadow. This was achieved by half burying the 750-square-metre residence into the south-facing slope and covering … Read more
Architect and humanitarian, Yasmeen Lari, was seeking funding to build a million bamboo homes for around $100 apiece, after Pakistan suffered its worst-ever floods. Now she’s shifted her plan, deciding she’d still aim for that, but with a new price tag to outside funders: $0. “I really believe that everyone wants to have a better … Read more
Marialyce Pedersen’s house in Altadena, California was reduced to ash that spilled into the pool, turning the water a toxic black. But along one wall, a sculpted pink bench and outdoor kitchen looked only slightly worse for wear. Pedersen had built the bench and kitchen using cob. “That is going to be the start of … Read more
The Tiny Farm Fort was the first project of the Tiny Farm Lab, helmed by architect brothers Raghav and Ansh Kumar. 90 volunteers from over 18 countries arrived at a remote mountain forest in Rishikesh, India in 2021 to help build this house of cob. They say the project “was a consequence of a lifestyle … Read more
Architect and designer Jenna Yu’s home in Providence, Rhode Island features wooden siding on an addition connected to the original 19th-century home. The addition was built with panelized straw. The walls were plastered by her family and friends with earthen plaster, and the light fixtures were handcrafted by her mother and step-father. With two young … Read more
Miguel Elliott, founder of Living Earth Structures in Petaluma, California constructs beautiful, durable homes using cob. “Nothing is more sustainable,” Elliott said. “If you take a structure made of earthen, sun-dried material, protect it right with good sealer and a nice roof, it can last a long time. There are cob houses in England that … Read more