Gramitherm is the first insulation to be produced from grass, which is sourced from public parks and grass verges, combined with recycled jute fibers, plus a recycled polyester binder, to produce one of the most sustainable forms of insulation on the market and is available from Ecological Building Systems in the UK and Ireland. Resistant … Read more
German architect Anna Heringer designed the Anandaloy Center in Bangladesh as a pioneering project for the revival of mud construction in contemporary architecture. Housing both a disabilities center and a textile studio, Anandaloy, means “place of great joy.” Originally, the two-story building was to be solely a disability center, but the decision was later made … Read more
Architect and humanitarian, Yasmeen Lari, was seeking funding to build a million bamboo homes for around $100 apiece, after Pakistan suffered its worst-ever floods. Now she’s shifted her plan, deciding she’d still aim for that, but with a new price tag to outside funders: $0. “I really believe that everyone wants to have a better … Read more
What if we crafted or chose every building component to maintain value and purpose beyond the life time of the building? This transition—from demolition to practices focusing on reuse, repurposing, and sustainable dismantling—is edging closer to reality. As these changes unfold, we must assess how our strategies align with the evolving goals and challenges related … Read more
Marialyce Pedersen’s house in Altadena, California was reduced to ash that spilled into the pool, turning the water a toxic black. But along one wall, a sculpted pink bench and outdoor kitchen looked only slightly worse for wear. Pedersen had built the bench and kitchen using cob. “That is going to be the start of … Read more
On a rural property on the slopes of California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, Morgan Bierschenk and his team have been refining a durable, mineral-like material to build sturdy dome homes with a particular matte-ceramic finish. They have called their modular dome homes Geoships. Geoships are made of “bioceramic.” Used up until recently on high-end consumer electronic … Read more