Christopher Alexander, architect, academic and writer, died 17 March 2022; he was 85 years old. Christopher saw buildings and cities as living frameworks for human beings. He sought “to provide a complete working alternative to our present ideas about architecture, building and planning”. Like many critics of postwar reconstruction, he saw much that was destructive … Read more
The Matter. Space. Soul restaurant pavilion in Bangladesh is minimal in that entire elements constituting the mass of the structure are stripped away. What remains is a beacon of extreme utility related to vernacular construction and materials. The restaurant owner wished to extend his existing restaurant space, away from the metropolitan, wanting patrons to “breathe … Read more
Mud architecture in India has a rich history. Even today, more than 65 million of about 118 million houses in the country are made of mud. But this architecture is slowly being supplanted by concrete as the country progresses. A 47-year-old architect is looking to change our notions about mud housing. Mud architecture is associated with deprivation and … Read more
Sketch Design Studio designed and built this Mud House in Rajasthan to reference the multi-storeyed stepwells, which date back to the seventh century and are characterized by grids of crisscrossing diagonal staircases. The house combines rammed earth and stone walls with a thatch roof. The house features two roof terraces that are accessed by staircases … Read more
I have been a long time admirer of SunRay Kelley’s aesthetic and craftsmanship, and this house is a perfect example. Suzanne takes us on a tour of her Forest House on Orcas Island in Washington. This magical cabin with a spectacular ocean view was designed and built by SunRay Kelley. Suzanne fell in love with … Read more
Two Italian architects, Andrea Tabocchini and Francesca Vittorini, designed and built a school in a remote village in Ghana. The non-profit project was built in just 60 days with only 12,000 euros and the help of volunteers from 20 different countries and the local populace. Since there was no power, the school was constructed by … Read more