This 5,660-square-foot home in Hyderabad, India—named Aurva Illam—was built entirely by hand, with hand-poured and hand-rammed earth. The spaces are designed to work with the climate, shaping a home that’s almost monastic with thermal autonomy, and a way of living that makes air-conditioning unnecessary. “From the outset, the intention was to build an earth home … Read more
Rocky Mountain Institute’s pathways to building with biomass, ASLA’s biodiversity priorities, and Architecture 2030’s resilience frameworks all point to nature-based, locally attuned solutions that strengthen communities while reducing carbon. At the same time, mindful MATERIALS highlights the data infrastructure needed to make these choices measurable and mainstream. Together, these findings signal a shift toward regenerative … Read more
The National Trust for Scotland has successfully repaired one of the most significant structures following a major collapse in 2022. The beehive-shaped, stone building known as ‘Lady Grange’s House’, is notable among the 1,200 such stone buildings scattered across the main island of Hirta. These are stone structures built without mortar and topped with turf … Read more
Rooted in community and tribal wisdom, ‘Common Ground‘ is a commune that centers human friendly experiences and highlights the importance of preservation by shining a light on different forms of sustainable architecture, art, music, and farming. Operating out of Bengaluru and Kerala, India, Common Ground is a commune that believes that our planet does not … Read more
By using local resources and eliminating energy-heavy manufacturing, rammed earth aligns with global decarbonization goals. It has become a preferred choice among forward-thinking people committed to sustainability. Below are five projects utilizing rammed earth in a variety of ways. An Eco-Village in rural São Paulo includes three homes ranging from a 538-square-foot studio to a … Read more
Changyuel Galem’s House in Bhutan is a 400-year-old heritage site tied to the tragic love legend of Galem and Singye, and is now awaiting urgent restoration. Similar to Romeo and Juliet, Singye fell in love with Galem, a beautiful young woman, and fate kept them apart. The separation is said to have broken Galem’s heart, … Read more