For Arkin Tilt Architects, sustainability isn’t a trend—it’s the foundation of every project. Their signature “farm-to-wall” approach merges thoughtful design with ecology by transforming straw into high-performance, low-carbon buildings. To bring these innovative structures to life, precision and data-driven insight are key. Discover how the team uses Vectorworks to model and document custom wall systems, … Read more
A California nonprofit says centuries-old straw bale building could help tackle the housing crisis as property prices spiral out of control. In Santa Cruz County, the Soquel neighborhood’s Mount Calvary Lutheran Church is teaming up with nonprofits Just Places and People First to build a “village” of straw-bale homes for people coming out of homelessness. … Read more
Near Hudson, N.Y., a Princeton University team has erected a cottage made almost entirely of straw, which they said is more sustainable than bricks or concrete. The cottage looks straight out of a children’s book but has some elegant, modern flourishes. Straw, which consists of the leftover stalks of cereal grains such as wheat and … Read more
The founders of SolFed Farms wanted to provide a space for people to learn, to connect with nature and to discover their power. Through education, innovation, and collaboration, they empower individuals to embrace sustainable living, rebuild ecosystems, and foster harmony between humanity and nature. They are committed to co-creating a learning environment for youth and … Read more
Jeannette Kuo: Both of you have been questioning standardized materials that have dominated the industry and rethinking what we can do better in our means of production. Some of this involves revisiting more traditional ways of building that have been forgotten or are not as common these days. I’m curious about the challenges you’ve come … Read more
As sustainability assessment lead at Sheffield University’s Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures, Stuart Walker wanted to make sure his garden office had the lowest possible embodied carbon and low energy use once it was up and running. That meant the office would need to be very well insulated and made of materials with low carbon content. … Read more