Nine homes using different natural materials for their roof demonstrating their versatility and longevity.
Concrete, that ubiquitous gray building material, is one of the world's most consistent sources of CO2 emissions. We've got 11 alternatives to consider.
In this article we go through the list of building materials used during the medieval times from the lowly cottage to the grand cathedrals of the time
Professor Tom Woolley from Rachel Bevan Architects explains what hempcrete is, how it is mixed and applied, and what the pros and cons of using it are. Interview with Tom Woolley Tom became interested in environmental issues in the 1980's after doing a lot of work with community groups. In the 90's he worked on producing the “Green […]
Forest wind eco cabin. Natural energy experience accommodation. Iwate Prefecture, Kuzumaki. 2009 / House of the Future, Kanagawa Prefecture, Miura, 2010: Community built by over 200 people. ‘…
A question came up during a recent workshop that seems worth exploring further... Who does each task when constructing a natural buildin...
Browse through these HGTV.com photos of Spanish-style and Spanish-inspired home interiors to get inspiration for your home.
Hybrid Dome built by Earthen Shelter. This dome was built out of natural materials like cob and straw in the high desert of southern CA. Click here for more photos.
Reciprocal roof frames are self-supporting structures that date back to the 12th Century. They are used in Chinese and Japanese architecture, as well as
The Growing Pavilion, a new environmentally-friendly building, is made with mycelium, the roots of mushrooms. As it grows, it helps to clean the air.
Is a straw bale construction really a good way to reach the Passivhaus standard? And would a straw bale Passivhaus be robust over time? In this article I speak to Bjørn Kierulf from Createrra about achieving Passivhaus standard with Ecococon straw panels. Bjørn Kierulf was originally an industrial designer and won a number of national awards for his […]
Kristen fell in love with cob after visiting a natural building site and immediately started to draw up plans for her home.
Janell ha reunido a mujeres, no sólo para la construcción de viviendas utilizando materiales naturales, sino que también ha asentado bases sólidas para futuras comunidades.
The ideal scenario for a sustainable building environment is a future where all materials are safe and replenishable and have no negative impact on human and ecosystem health. Discussion Questions:…
We have written extensively about the uses and benefits of the wonderful hemp plant here in the past on ISMOKE, but did you know about Hempcrete? Hempcrete is similar to concrete but made from the cannabis plant mixed with limestone, making a durable substance that can be an alternative to traditional concrete - it's consistency
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Like 4 Interview with Serge Bolduc, a Canadian house builder By Simon Leclerc Simon Leclerc: We are located in front of a beautiful house that you are […]
Kristen fell in love with cob after visiting a natural building site and immediately started to draw up plans for her home.
Using natural materials, the Cal-Earth Institute is helping people build homes that can withstand fires, earthquakes, and hurricanes.
Living trees form the structure of an open-air palace.
Earthship Homes
A consortium in the UK has constructed a small building on a university campus out of hemp-lime to test its properties as a building material. Called the "HemPod", this one-storey building has highly insulating walls made from the chopped woody core, or shiv, of the industrial hemp plant mixed with a specially developed lime-based binder.
On the other hand, we have natural homes. Sure there might be lots of dust traps, but they appeal to the human side of our soul... that side that knows we are a part of nature. Most of us find natural homes strangely appealing because they offer a sense of tranquillity that is often lacking in our hectic lives.
