Jim Gagnepain and his wife, Stephanie, built their retirement home in eastern El Paso County, Colorado. Jim, who has a background in electrical engineering, acted as the general contractor, and he and Stephanie did a lot of the work. The … Continue reading →
At Cob Cottage Company in Oregon Kara Stiff trained in cob, an ancient technique using clay, sand and straw, with stone or recycled concrete for the foundation. They built rounded houses that seemed right out of a fairy tale, using … Continue reading →
The most relevant reinterpretations of ancient construction today are those that do so in the interest of sustainability, renouncing high-energy modern construction methods in favor of older, more natural techniques. The ancient Egyptian Nubian vault is making a resurgence in … Continue reading →
Emma lives in the wild woods of Wales, where she is close to nature , with no running water, electricity, or internet. For Emma, this way of life is all about building a closer relationship to nature while also creating … Continue reading →
I got an email this morning from Clay Greathouse who is beginning to build an earthbag house for his family in Cochise County, Arizona. He writes, “Cochise County offers a Building Inspection Opt-Out , which we are taking advantage of, … Continue reading →
Justin & Linda Tyers bought a lot in the Exmoor National Park for £50k, which left them a budget of £67k to build a beautiful, off-grid, timber-frame, straw bale home. A truly inspirational self build. You can watch the video … Continue reading →