Many years ago it was easy to recognize Mong villages and hamlets with traditional earthen houses, but now, many households have replaced earthen houses with modern architecture; the unique features in the traditional houses of the Mong people are gradually fading away. Ms. Trang Thi Sang still lives in a traditional earthen house. She said … Read more
The Rijnvliet housing development in the Netherlands has around 1,000 fruit trees and 220 species of edible flora. The development has 1,000 homes surrounded by parks, rivers and forestry with the aim of including as much food producing plants as possible. “The idea of an edible neighborhood originated from the residents themselves”, says the landscape … Read more
Casa Las Tupas is located in northern Chile, an area defined by its arid climate, seasonal winds, and a landscape marked by ravines. The owner wanted to focus on low environmental impact, functional simplicity, and integration with the surrounding terrain. The house has a north–south axis which maximizes passive lighting and ventilation, with the east … Read more
Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site near La Junta, Colorado has been closed to the public due to safety issues with the structure. The current fort building was constructed in 1976 on the footprint of the original mid-1800s trading post that was a meeting place and major settlement along the Santa Fe Trail for trappers, … Read more
Designed as low-carbon dwellings for people who are struggling to afford their own homes, the Tigín Tiny Homes in Ireland measure just 215 sf. They were created by Irish social enterprise Common Knowledge together with hemp producer Margent Farm and built from natural materials, including corrugated hemp cladding panels, cork insulation and natural rubber linoleum … Read more
The Japanese company Lib Work is using earthen materials to 3D print homes. House Model B is a 1,076-square-foot, single-story residence built mainly from earth, lime, and natural fibers. Lib Work says improvements to the overall manufacturing process have lowered its carbon emissions and the building itself is about five times stronger than their previous design … Read more