TECLA 3D Printed Home of Mud in Italy

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

Young Artist Embraces Natural Building in Trinidad

Celine Ramjit is an artist working in eco-architecture, weaving; and tattooing. Now she is building a community and a homestead through an art practice that is immersed in nature. Ramjit grew up in Trinidad where she started a tattoo apprenticeship in 2013 which revealed the anthropological history of body art. Ramjit volunteered to work for … Read more

Earthships in Canada

Craig and Connie Cook to sailed into early retirement aboard an Earthship. “We would still be working,” Craig said. “We left at 55 because we have no bills.” A lack of utility bills for their home, coupled with a lack of ongoing maintenance costs, allowed the Cooks to build a home for $70,000, and minimize … Read more

The Passive Solar Potential of Skylights

Research shows that, even in cloudy areas, a large chunk of our heating needs could be met with a few well-positioned (and well-managed) skylights. “I’ve been interested in passive solar heating for quite a number of years, but we live in a cloudy climate. And there has been a lot of skepticism about how well … Read more