For centuries, Morocco’s Aït-Ben-Haddou has been a thriving nexus of commerce, culture, and architectural ingenuity. As a bridge between Marrakech and Timbuktu, it serves as a refuge for traders and a fortress against the desert’s harsh elements. Its sun-baked walls stand as a monument to adaptation and survival, sculpted from the very land it inhabits. … Read more
Architects in Bulgaria are turning to the wisdom of the past and blending it with modern techniques to build homes that offer refuge from scorching heatwaves. They say ecological and local building materials like straw and clay allow for better ventilation and insulation. Kamen Pramatarov is an architect who built and lives in a small … Read more
A century-old wooden structure is transformed into an atelier and office in a mountainous region north of Kyoto, Japan, integrating traditional Japanese craftsmanship and locally sourced materials. The renovation retains as much of the original handcrafted timber frame as possible. Complementing the existing framework, the studio introduces a cypress structure fitted with handcrafted sliding doors … Read more
The New Streat Hill House in England was built from recycled materials, including rubble from a burned-out bungalow that was on the site. When viewed from a distance, the home is intended to resemble two barns sitting on a meadow. This was achieved by half burying the 750-square-metre residence into the south-facing slope and covering … Read more
Michael Reynolds has been perfecting Earthships for 55 years, and now he says he has the model just right. “An Earthship is a building that encounters the phenomena of the planet to provide sustenance for its inhabitants,” Michael Reynolds said. It is heated by the sun and kept warm using thermal dynamics. The buildings collect … Read more
This old Vicarage in the UK is a 17th-century cob building built on tall sandstone footings with a Victorian limestone extension built in 1850, and a smaller brickwork extension believed to be from the late 1800s, that serves as the entrance. The building was bought by Great Western Railway in 1939 and converted into flats. … Read more