A century-old wooden structure is transformed into an atelier and office in a mountainous region north of Kyoto, Japan, integrating traditional Japanese craftsmanship and locally sourced materials. The renovation retains as much of the original handcrafted timber frame as possible. Complementing the existing framework, the studio introduces a cypress structure fitted with handcrafted sliding doors … Read more
The Shell Restaurant is located on the cliffs of Diamond Beach and is a key feature of the Intaaya Retreat in Bali.. With its expressive rooftop and bamboo construction, the structure opens broadly toward the coastal landscape and maintains a strong commitment to sustainability. The Intaaya Retreat is entirely self-sufficient in water, using a deep … Read more
In Ladakh, India’s highest plateau, residential architecture is shaped by extreme cold, intense solar radiation and arid landscape. Structures rely on locally sourced sun-dried mud bricks, rammed earth and timber, with hand-plastered walls and meticulously layered timber and compacted earth roofs engineered to withstand heavy snowfall. The spatial organization—livestock housed on the ground floor with … Read more
Crop straw in many rural areas across China used to be commonly used for cooking or feeding livestock. However, with the decline in rural populations and the increasing prevalence of gas stoves and mechanization in rural China, straw has been become a waste. But now, this waste is becoming a valuable resource. Straw remnants have … Read more
About 40 years ago, William bought 1.25 acres for $6000 on the Big Island of Hawaii and began growing his own food and building his own shelters. He was inspired to leave his native Wisconsin for a place where it would be easier to live off the land. Today he lives with only solar power … Read more
Windcatchers have been a sustainable solution to cooling and ventilation in arid climates, predating modern air conditioning by millennia. They are chimney-like towers with open sides designed to capture breezes high above ground level and direct them into the buildings below. By channeling cool air downward and expelling warm air through opposite vents, they provide … Read more