When Pete Holmberg wanted a log house on some property in Minnesota he found a company that could build such a house with logs sourced from an old-growth forest of red pines planted in 1831, more than 120 years before the evergreen became the official state tree. “I was originally going to do milled logs, … Read more
James Reid and Rosa Bevan hope to inspire other budding farmers after living off their own land for the last ten years. Tap O’ Noth farm in Scotland produces ecologically grown fruit and vegetables on their eight-acre site, as well as housing chickens, geese and a small herd of dairy goats. They practice permaculture which … Read more
Here is a collection of some of the oldest buildings in the United States. It is interesting to notice that virtually all of them could be considered “natural buildings” made from local natural materials. This speaks to the longevity of natural building techniques! Originally constructed in Ardmore, Alabama in 1808 before being restored at to … Read more
I am pleased to announce that our blog is back online after being suspended for the last week. It took that long for the blog to be moved to its new server, where is should reside indefinitely. Thank you for your patience!
In 2020, George Dunnett bought his first home, an abandoned stone building which was filled with old car parts and tools. Over the next year he had the building renovated into a nice tiny cottage which he now lives in and is quite pleased with. You can watch the video at www.youtube.com
Adaptive reuse fits the sustainability mantra of the “three Rs,” (reduce, reuse, recycle) but all too often we overlook the green side of architectural conservation. Whether it’s a Gothic Revival church, a modernist Centennial project, or a contemporary design in glass and steel, a completed structure has a huge carbon footprint. Demolishing an existing building, … Read more