The Hartman Castle was built by Annie and Alonzo Hartman, who were some of Gunnison, Colorado’s earliest white settlers. The building, which is more than a century old, is now considered one of Colorado’s Most Endangered Places. Even though much of the original structure is still intact, it hasn’t been maintained. It needs a new … Read more
A wall in Theopetra Cave in Greece was built during the Last Glacial Maximum, a period of extreme cold when much of Europe was blanketed in ice. Researchers believe early humans constructed it to partially seal the cave’s entrance, blocking freezing winds. Theopetra Cave offers a continuous archaeological record spanning 130,000 years, making it one … Read more
In a world increasingly affected by natural disasters, climate change, and housing crises, a seemingly simple technique has been attracting attention for decades: building houses with earthbags, also known as Superadobe. It has already demonstrated resistance to earthquakes, hurricanes, and fires. Popularized by Iranian-American architect Nader Khalili in the 1980s, superadobe combines ancient earth-based construction … Read more
The Rammed Earth House is one of the few projects in the UK built from unstabilised rammed earth, a material made entirely of compacted soil that has been used in construction since Neolithic times. Tuckey Design Studio, which worked on the Rammed Earth House, says “The increase in temperatures in Northern Europe means that this … Read more
As sustainability assessment lead at Sheffield University’s Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures, Stuart Walker wanted to make sure his garden office had the lowest possible embodied carbon and low energy use once it was up and running. That meant the office would need to be very well insulated and made of materials with low carbon content. … Read more
Hempcrete is made from hemp hurd, lime, and water. The hemp stalk consists of two primary components: the outer fiber, commonly used in textiles, and the inner core, known as the hurd. Traditionally considered agricultural waste, the hurd has a woody texture and serves as the main ingredient in hempcrete. Lime acts as a natural … Read more