The peaceful lifestyle of Nung ethnic people has been preserved well in Bac Hoa hamlet of 160 households in Vietnam. It is nestled against the mountains and is blessed with a stream. Many of the houses have preserved the traditional Nung structures with rammed earth walls and yin-yang tiled roofs. The People’s Committee of the … Read more
Human health and well-being in affordable housing design should begin with crafting connections to nature, healthy indoor environments and spaces that foster community. Biophilic design harnesses the innate affinity humans have for being exposed to nature. Studies have consistently shown that people with access to daylight and views of natural settings thrive better than those who … Read more
The Arc at the Green School in Bali is built from a series of intersecting bamboo arches and is a testament to bamboo’s strength and viability when it comes to constructing large scale buildings. According to Christopher Matthews, an engineer with Atelier One, the demand for bamboo is increasing, with 30% of Atelier One’s worldwide … Read more
Tony Johnson runs Earth House Holdings in Sooke, B.C., Canada. He specializes in rammed earth like his own house featured here. He used steel rebar and wool insulation, which results in exceptional strength when it comes to earthquakes and a much more insulated envelope for the colder Canadian climate. It is extremely energy efficient due … Read more
In this is short film an architect decided to move to Costa Rica to build his dream home in the jungle. It is made with shipping containers, bamboo, and other sustainable materials. It runs on solar and hydro power and has beautiful ocean and jungle views. It is like a dream of living in when … Read more
Aligned with the edge of the Mekong River, Mekong House is a contemporary home that expresses the vernacular architecture of the region with its a tropical climate. The home has an open rectangular floor plan, with a series of balconies on the second floor that help to shade the ground floor. The materials used for … Read more