Several years ago Kirsten Dirksen’s family embarked on a project where they found a derelict (and affordable) country home located in a tiny, well-maintained castle hamlet 1 hour outside Barcelona, Spain. They began renovation with the help of a young architecture studio. Can a home remodel celebrate the layers of past, present, and future? Do … Read more
Ekarth Studio in India shows us that development and nature can go hand in hand. The Delhi-based studio focuses on bamboo construction to create luxurious spaces. Located in the heart of Assam, their new Firefly House merges innovative design with sustainable building practices. Firefly House is made almost entirely of bamboo that was harvested and … Read more
Daryl and Maria Cleary were living in a four-bedroom, 4,000-square-foot home when they decided it was time to downsize. “It was too much house for two people,” Maria said. The Clearys knew they wanted their home to be energy-efficient. They found a house plan that they liked and purchased it, increasing the square footage, and … Read more
Dapur Naga, located within the lush tropical environment of Bali, serves as a communal kitchen and dining space, capable of hosting more than 50 people. The main conceptual inspiration for Dapur Naga came from the graceful form of a whirling Sufi skirt, reflected in the building’s undulating roof. The roof is designed to capture stunning … Read more
Pete Bissonette has one of the about 650 homes Earth Sheltered Technology has built since it began in 1981. The company has houses in Minnesota and Wisconsin as well as in California and Alaska. “I loved every bit of building it,” Bissonette said. “I’m glad I made the decision to build it. I have no … Read more
Pedro Pedrosa and his wife Sofia left city life over a decade ago to live in a mostly-abandoned farming village in Central Portugal. After creating their home from several small outbuildings, they continued to experiment with local building materials- cork, pine, lime, and slate- by transforming three stone storage sheds into “Nature Houses.” Their town, … Read more