A family wants to build a house using the very material from the land. Shovel, bucket, sturdy bags, and physical strength replace heavy equipment. Can merely compacted soil support a complete structure? Loose soil does not support anything. It spreads, gives way, crumbles. The challenge, then, was to convert this raw material into something capable of … Read more
I just got this email from Firespeaking Masonry Heaters and Wood Fired Ovens: Dear reader, This visual document we are publishing today is several years in the making and reflects our effort to help masonry heaters become more a part of vernacular building systems. Whether you are a homeowner, professional heater builder, or architect, it … Read more
There has been a revival of the age-old craft of thatched roofs in contemporary buildings across the globe. Used to create thick, insulating shelters, a thatched roof is an ancient roofing method achieved by layering bundles of dried vegetation such as reeds. The technique is often associated with old, rustic cottages in Europe, but it … Read more
Rammed Earth walls tie this Desert Fairway Residence in Phoenix, Arizona to its natural setting. It was designed to embody contrasting elements – solid and void, interior and exterior, light and shadow – that come together to create a sense of balance. Totalling 7,195 square feet (668 square metres), the home consists of low, rectilinear … Read more
Researchers have turned old, unwanted mattresses into safe and sustainable building insulation using fungi. Mattresses are one of the hardest household items to recycle, since they are durable, bulky, and often end up in landfill. The team grew a common fungus together with shredded mattress foam to create a new material that is solid and … Read more
Trash artist Thomas Dambo has transformed an old farm into a whimsical homestead for his family and the dozens of makers who work alongside him. Just outside Copenhagen, is this imaginative village where nearly every structure, pathway, and piece of furniture is crafted from other people’s discarded materials. From pallet wood to old polycarbonate metro … Read more