I recently got this email from Yolan: I want to share that, using tips from you and Owen’s old posts, I built this mini-shed out of Earthbags. I posted a write-up for it to our blog at www.offgridgirls.com On her blog, she sums up the experience: “Overall, this was a fun project. I’m really thankful … Read more
Running from July 1–4th permies.com is offering a Permaculture Adventure Bundle to help with your sustainable journey. For $35 you can get over $600 worth of merchandise, including Owen Geiger’s Roundhouse Studio Plan (and his Earthbag Building Guide ebook), which is worth $150 in its own right. This comprehensive package of e-books, movies, plans, presentations, … Read more
While most countries are losing many cultural elements, Bhutan is retaining most of theirs. This is largely due to their current king and the ones that came before him. The Ministry of Works and Human Settlement published the Bhutanese Architecture Guidelines in 2014—a comprehensive manual that makes it easy for architects, engineers, planners and craftsmen … Read more
Japanese architect Shigeru Ban’s Paper Log House has been added to a Glass House and a Brick House at architect Philip Johnson’s former estate in New Canaan, Connecticut. It’s a small house — just one room — and it’s made mostly of paper, but it’s more resilient than it looks. The foundation is made of … Read more
This thatch-roofed tea house supported on bamboo pillars was built in 1986. The 510-square-meter (5490 sf) structure with its high arched roof was inspired by traditional rural residences in the Yangtze River Delta. After undergoing a major, two-year restoration project, it has now reopened to the public. It was designed by Feng Jizhong (1915-2009), who … Read more
Termites are master engineers who can build enormous, complex nests that stand several meters tall. They build intricate tunnels that have natural air conditioning. But how do these tiny creatures coordinate to create such impressive structures? A study by researchers at the IMT School for Advanced Studies in Italy has cracked the mystery. Termites focuse … Read more