ReGrow Willow is an innovative hybrid material system that combines the tensile strength of willow and the compressive strength of earth for architectural applications. The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology also uses digital fabrication processes and computational tools to create lightweight, mobile, and adaptable fabrication equipment. The project further seeks to present a potential remedy for … Read more
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, in 2022, air conditioning was responsible for the equivalent of 1.95 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions, or 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. HVAC systems were not popularized until the 1960s, and even later in China. Buildings have been developed in relation to their climatic surroundings for … Read more
The Arc at the Green School in Bali is built from a series of intersecting bamboo arches and is a testament to bamboo’s strength and viability when it comes to constructing large scale buildings. According to Christopher Matthews, an engineer with Atelier One, the demand for bamboo is increasing, with 30% of Atelier One’s worldwide … Read more
Tony Johnson runs Earth House Holdings in Sooke, B.C., Canada. He specializes in rammed earth like his own house featured here. He used steel rebar and wool insulation, which results in exceptional strength when it comes to earthquakes and a much more insulated envelope for the colder Canadian climate. It is extremely energy efficient due … Read more
Over the last month there have been several times when emailed notifications of blog posts that I have made were not sent to subscribers. I have been communicating with the Mailchimp service that is supposed to handle this and I believe that we have finally resolved the problem. I will list the missing blog posts … Read more
Hemp mixed with lime can create a low-carbon, more climate friendly building material than concrete. “There’s an enormous growth potential in the US for hemp fiber used for building and insulation,” said Kaja Kühl, founder of youarethecity, a design and building practice. “Hemp was only legalized in 2018, but now industrial hemp is following the … Read more