Cob, a mixture of subsoil and straw, was historically used in England and there are examples of cob buildings over 500 years old. Despite renewed interest, cob construction remains the niche activity of a few enthusiasts. There are no standards for making and using cob, and insulation needs to be added to the walls in … Read more
It took 2 years and 3.5 million pounds of dirt just to create the two-foot-thick rammed-earth walls of this 6,000-square-foot home designed by Lake Flato Architects for Ashlyn and Dan Perry outside of Marfa, Texas. “Part of the reason that rammed earth was the chosen construction method was due to the thermodynamic properties. Because of … Read more
Named TECLA, a combination of the words technology and clay, this home was designed by Mario Cucinella Architects in Italy and was constructed and engineered by Wasp using clay sourced from a nearby riverbed. It is formed of two connected dome-shaped volumes with a ribbed outer wall that is made up of 350 stacked layers. … Read more
Emanuele Almagioni wanted to build a home in a cold and windy, but very sunny, town high in the Italian Alps that would use the sun to provide all of its heating needs. With winter low temperatures reaching -25°C (-13°F) the home had to be tight enough to hold the heat but exposed enough to … Read more
Myk Brazier here – These are a few pics of the house we’ve been working on. I used Mike Oehler’s book as well as PAHS by John Hait (and a bunch of other stuff). But it’s basically what you’re calling WOFATI. We mixed and poured our own concrete foundation. This house is being built by … Read more
After spending years cycling around the world, Martijn Doolaard was ready for a more permanent home and he wanted something with a view. Remembering the rough beauty of the peaks of Dry from a bike trip, Doolaard discovered dozens of “dirt cheap” abandoned homes for sale and bought two at the top of a mountain … Read more