It is mid-afternoon in Nakuru County, Nairobi, a few meters from the shores of Lake Elementaita. On this day, a group of men and women, old and young, are busy working at a construction site. From a distance, nothing looks unusual about the ongoing work. After all, Saturday is a working day for most people. … Read more
Amarnath Duleep, an Indian architect who experiments with green living, has learned how to make mud homes in Tamil Nadu, at an organization which teaches sustainable building techniques. He applies completely natural techniques for his projects, using only local materials. His partner is Mumbai-based Diana Mowdawala, who embellishes his mud buildings with intricate natural artwork. … Read more
This is a fun, ecological retreat house surrounded by trees in the United Kingdom. Much of the material used was recycled or gathered locally. You can find out more about Ravendere Retreats at ravendere.co.uk You can watch the video at www.youtube.com
Cocoa husks, dried orange peel, and ground blue pea flowers are among the ingredients that constitute a new class of building materials that could revolutionize construction. Not only are they biodegradable but some also absorb toxins. They are waste products that are used to make “Orb”, a sustainable building material that is carbon neutral. It … Read more
Tom and Carol Ann Fisher are selling their longtime home in the environmentally conscious community on Melbourne’s northeastern fringe to downsize. They spent most of the 1980s building this with help from their neighbors. The Fishers handmade about 6000 mud bricks. They were laid by one of their neighbors, brickie-turned-historian and “local legend” Mick Woiwod, … Read more
The on-going fire storm in Australia has sparked new interest in ways to build more fire resistant houses. Architect Sean O’Bryan, who designs “earth sheltered” homes has been inundated with requests since the bushfire crisis escalated. “I’ve had about 20 emails since Christmas and a lot are from people who have had houses burnt down,” … Read more