Sustainable Architecture Thrives on Artisan Techniques

Most modern construction largely relies on industrial methods, but there is a renewed respect for traditional craftsmanship. Understanding how people utilize handmade brick, lime plaster, woven bamboo, and rammed earth represents cultural continuity and authenticity. Craft hasn’t vanished due to obsolete technologies or disappearing artisans. It has been economically repositioned, revealing complexities beyond material use … Read more

Sustainable Living: Homes for Our Time

A new book published by Taschen, Sustainable Living: Homes for Our Time, by Philip Jodidio, showcases the quiet revolution in green residential architecture, from living roofs to rainwater harvesting. “Twenty or 30 years ago, sustainability was often treated as a specialist concern,” said Philip Jodidio. “Today it shapes almost every discussion about housing, from materials … Read more

Three Decades of Off-Grid Living in Arizona

Gale Marsland fell in love with Arizona’s desert climate and eventually built an off-grid home with her husband using sustainable design, passive solar principles, and traditional Southwestern building techniques. Living without utility power, they relied on photovoltaic solar panels, batteries, propane, and innovative cooling systems, gradually upgrading their technology as renewable energy became more efficient … Read more

A Historic Building is Transformed Into a Delightful Home

The local town store will always carry special significance for the owner of this imaginatively reborn house. What was once a 19th-century hub in Victoria, Australia is now the place she calls home. Historically, this was a very busy gold mining area with about 6000 people living in the town. But a fire went through … Read more