The annual re-plastering of the Djenne mosque was held with the participation of many people. This is important to maintain the integrity of the world’s largest mud-brick building, which has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage in Danger list since 2016. The mosque and surrounding town were added to the list due to ongoing insecurity in … Read more
Kiran Amati and his father, Prakash, spent most weekends farming, and experimenting with dairy and cow dung products on Prakash’s farm outside of Mumbai, India. At some point, Amati and his father chanced upon “Geeli Mitti,” an organization that leads workshops on natural buildings. Eventually, with the help of Geeli Mitti and a group of … Read more
ReGrow Willow is an innovative hybrid material system that combines the tensile strength of willow and the compressive strength of earth for architectural applications. The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology also uses digital fabrication processes and computational tools to create lightweight, mobile, and adaptable fabrication equipment. The project further seeks to present a potential remedy for … Read more
A home made of earthbags in Johns Town, Jamaica, is setting an example for sustainable living. It’s part of a group of largely self-sufficient residences called The Source Farm Foundation and Ecovillage. The home gets 70% of its energy from solar and wind, and the owner says, “People kept coming in our house to see … Read more
Plentitud’s Bioconstruction team has demonstrated that spaces of delight can be created with accessible and affordable materials. They started with an existing metal structure with a zinc roof that served as shelter from the rain for several tents, but they wanted something that could provide more protection and comfort to their staff and visitors. They … Read more
Penny Livingston-Stark is a designer and professor of permaculture who has worked for 25 years in the field of regenerative design based on non-toxic natural materials. She insists on the compatibility between bamboo and earth. Their similarities and differences help them to integrate remarkably well. “Earth and bamboo are not compatible with plastic vapor barriers … Read more