China is sometimes called the “Kingdom of Bamboo,” because it is the world’s largest producer of the woody grass. But modern architecture has relegated bamboo to the “poor man’s timber.” Now, however, bamboo is being recognized as a superior building material for sustainable reasons. As environmental issues climb to the top of headlines, bamboo is … Read more
Students at Colorado State University-Pueblo have found a natural and stylish way to keep cool. Under the tutelage of Maya Avina, a CSU-Pueblo art professor, they have constructed a cob bench. “It was a group of seven students – all women – and myself,” Avina said.“It’s a growing trend to use natural materials for building … Read more
While this is far from being an example of natural building, it does demonstrate an interesting concept for habitat that automatically responds to weather. Professor Weiguo Xu of Tsinghua University and his team have built a tourist reception center in China that opens and closes in response to the weather.The structure is used as an … Read more
Earth-sheltered homes are built into the land on at least three sides, keeping energy use to a minimum. An engulfed home allows for more stable temperatures throughout the home as well as less exposure to the elements. Underground America Day was created by “the father of modern earth-sheltered architecture,” Malcolm Wells, in 1974. He died … Read more
In a backyard in Temple, Texas sits a playhouse for the homeowner’s grandchildren. “You mix play sand and straw together,” says builder Tracy McLoud. “You just take the lumps of cob and actually sculpt the structure without any formwork,” she adds. “It’s almost an exact replica of the miniature model that we built.” The cob … Read more
“A gale has risen and is sweeping the clouds across the sky.” Inspired by this famous verse in an ancient Chinese poem, the design team has presented a ‘pavilion of swirling clouds’ for the garden festival of BJFU. Covering an area of 120 square meters, the pavilion will serve as a hub for information during … Read more