It is important to use recycled building materials whenever possible. We’ve seen great examples of how reclaimed materials can add character to a structure, whether it is a hotel, tiny house, or an Earthship. In the southern state of Kerala, India, the Koshish building prominently features repurposed materials like Mangalore tiles, steel, and windows—all salvaged … Read more
Sanjeev Karpe, an Indian engineer, shares how bamboo became important to him and why he thinks sustainability is so vital to the planet. In 2003 he had an opportunity to visit China and observe the prevalence of bamboo in construction there. He noticed exotic modern bamboo buildings, and how the plant’s tensile strength made it a … Read more
As the sun beats down on Iraq, most people swelter in their concrete homes — but not the inhabitants of one mountain town known for its ancient and cool stone houses. Tracing its roots back 2,700 years, the picturesque Kurdish town of Akre is better adapted to the modern-day perils of climate change than other … Read more
Wallmakers founder, Vinu Daniel, is a “nomadic” Indian architect who was commended for eliciting an “energy, creativity and willingness to take risks while achieving sustainable buildings that exist harmoniously within the landscapes and ecologies in which they are erected.” Wallmakers work has been at the leading edge of carbon offsetting in design and construction, typically … Read more
At one point, the sandstone caves of Kinver’s Edge were home to 44 people, and in the 1960s, they were the last cave people in England. The network of troglodytes was first constructed in the 18th century and, by various accounts, it likely inspired Tolkien more than a century later to write “The Hobbit.” Likely … Read more
Hobbitowa, Krzywcza, Poland This Hobbit house used roundwood from local willow trees, clay for the interior plaster, lime for the exterior plaster, and cob stones for the infrastructure. The off-grid home also has its own water well, domestic sewage works, and photovoltaic panels for electricity. Inside, the house has a large open-plan living room with … Read more