I received an email from Professor Sunny Cai, who teaches architectural design at a college in Beijing , China. He mentioned his interest in ancient Chinese architecture, especially the earthen buildings called “tulou,” and he sent me some pictures of … Continue reading →
I visited Mesa Verde in Colorado near the Four Corners. This was my first encounter with the “ruins” of the ancestral Puebloan people, progenitors of the Pueblo and Hopi nations. I had heard about Mesa Verde since I was a … Continue reading →
In the arid valleys of southern Tunisia’s Djebel Dahar region, people have lived for centuries in underground houses whose earthen casing provides protection against searing summer heat and winter winds. But in recent decades, rural depopulation has meant fewer people … Continue reading →
Olga tours historical buildings made of wood, wattle and daub, and thatch roofing. Compare the cost and lifespan to modern home. … Continue reading →
“In this video we tour a traditional Icelandic turf house at the Islenski Baerinn Turf House museum. Turf houses are the original green buildings because they were built using local and natural materials. In Southern Iceland they used turf from … Continue reading →
I’ve been aware of the value of what is called “hempcrete,” a mixture of lime and hemp hurds (an agricultural byproduct), for several years. But I’ve never learned much about how to prepare it, partly because industrial hemp cultivation has … Continue reading →