The marvelous Great Wall of China is a cultural icon deeply entwined with myth and legend. The Wall has been a military defense structure, a symbol of imperial power, and now a tourist monument. Ancient stories tell of a powerful sorcerer who shaped the Wall to ensure its invincibility with the aid of earth spirits … Read more
The following are excerpts from the book Tiny by Louise Southerden: What does it mean to come home? To have a place of your own that feels safe in all the important ways? That wraps its arms around you when you arrive at the doorstep drenched in the problems of the world? For decades, whenever … Read more
Drakoni House is a 19th-century stone building converted into a holiday home in Crete. It has been uninhabited since 1920. Alterations to the traditional building were kept virtually unnoticeable from the outside and easily reversible in the future. The least possible construction interventions were made, mainly focusing on the restoration and reinforcement of the stone … Read more
According to the architect the refuge for Hodei Studio is the first in a network of shelters to be established in a protected area of olive groves in Tarragona, Spain. They used several camouflaging strategies for the refuge. The walls are a mixture of lime, water, and earth, while the openings are covered with metal … Read more
Verena Maeder is an earth building artisan with 32 years experience constructing earth buildings. She first fell in love with natural building as a teenager, but because of the lack of formal training opportunities in this field she decided to pursue an education in architecture as well as building biology and ecology. In 2002 she … Read more
Fusing local heritage and contemporary spatial dynamics, Casa De Mi Luna nestles into the scenic landscape of a nature reserve in the Czech Republic. Designed by Martin Zizka of Studio Circle Growth, the residence provides an idyllic retreat for an Argentinian-Czech family seeking respite from the bustle of Prague. The space blends with the region’s … Read more