Blending passive solar design with a contemporary flair, this four-bedroom home in Connecticut has earth sheltering, radiant floors and solar panels. It was designed by Charles Woods, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, and was featured on the cover of Popular Science Magazine in 1988. Charles has written 4 books including, Natural Architecture , The Complete … Read more
We live in a small community on the north coast of Portugal. We have the main facilities (big kitchen, compost toilet, shower, etc) separate from our cabin. This is the little water mill ruin we want to build on. and a sketch of the structure we thought of… We are now working on the foundation … Read more
A trademark of the Istrian region of Croatia is the kažun, a traditional stone hut. The kažun is a simple cylindrical structure built entirely of dry stacked stone. They all have a circular ground plan, a conical roof, and a small rectangular door. They vary in size, some are a masterful display of precision, some … Read more
Barns can offer big and bright spaces, with vaulted ceilings, exposed bricks and ancient timbers. Barn conversions also lend themselves easily to creating open-plan interiors. Modern design meets 200-year-old architecture at this delightful barn near Usk, in Monmouthshire. It is a traditional dry-stone building with a pitched terracotta roof. The 5,198sq ft interior has exposed … Read more
This straw bale roundhouse in Benbow, Northern California, provides a comfortable living temperature that adjusts to the summer and winter months. It has a central post and large beams on the ceiling. There is a large kitchen, living and dining room, 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom and open loft above for storage. There are built-in shelving, … Read more
The use of raw earth to build public and private structures has been practiced for thousands of years, with over 1.7 billion people across the globe living in earthen homes. But its integration in urban infrastructure and planning is something we ought to explore more. Raw earth with other materials left to dry and harden … Read more