“A hobbit-style eco-home is threatened with demolition after it was built in open countryside without planning permission.
Eco ‘hobbit home’ in Pembrokeshire faces demolition
green roof
Fun Norwegian Houses
Thanks to Richard F. for suggesting this site. It’s a page of fun Norwegian Houses in Thai language. This site shows how natural building methods are spreading around the world. The focus here seems to be on living roofs/green roofs.
New, Clean Energy Source: Living Plants
“On November 23, a researcher from Wageningen University in the Netherlands, Marjolein Helder, presented her Ph.D. research on a method to generate clean, renewable electricity from natural interactions between the soil and growing plants.
Multifunctional small green roofs: drought-proof shelters with wildlife habitats
“Whilst building low cost small green roofs Tim Green had a brain wave. His roofs could not only keep his buildings weather proof, he could also make them into wildlife habitats and dust them with symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi to make them more drought tolerant. Genius! …The construction took about 3 hours and cost just under … Read more
Three Natural Building Books
Natural Building: A Guide to Materials and Techniques
Natural building involves construction with materials that have undergone less processing and manufacturing than conventional synthetic products. Wherever possible, the natural materials that are used are renewable, originating from crops, and are obtained locally. Transport, pollution, carbon emissions, and fossil fuel use are therefore minimized and the end-product is harmonious, healthy, and environmentally beneficial. This book describes the many materials and methods that have been used by the pioneers of natural building; discusses the reasons why various materials have been chosen and frankly explains their advantages and disadvantages; provides a detailed consideration of all the main forms of natural construction, including building with earth, timber, and straw bales; and covers green and natural roofs, lime and masonry, and the use of hemp, as well as natural insulation materials, paints, and finishes. It thoroughly examines all the techniques involved, and analyzes the principles of green building and the issues involved in planning and regulatory approvals. It is lavishly illustrated with more than 220 color photographs and diagrams.
Update on Our Living Roof
It’s been somewhat of a struggle to get the living roof on our earthbag dome established. The steep sides make it quite challenging, because water runs off quickly and washes away the soil and nutrients. This causes dry areas to develop. As you can see from the early Mother Earth News photos, the grass didn’t … Read more