Earthship Biotecture Taos and How Mike Reynolds Built Homes From Rubbish
I’ve been fascinated by off-grid living for about as long as I’ve been trying to make my own place more sustainable, and honestly, nothing prepared me for my first visit…
Rammed Earth Walls and the Ancient Technique Making a Comeback
I first encountered rammed earth walls on a project in Devon three years ago. The client had this gorgeous 18th century cottage with a crumbling stone extension that needed replacing,…
How to Write a Self Build Project Plan for a Natural Material Home
# How to Write a Self Build Project Plan for a Natural Material Home After watching dozens of natural material self-builds go spectacularly over budget and beyond deadline, I can…
Reclaimed Timber and Why Salvaged Wood Outperforms New Every Time
# Reclaimed Timber and Why Salvaged Wood Outperforms New Every Time I used to think buying new timber was the responsible choice. You know, supporting sustainable forestry and all that.…
The Complete Guide to Building With Natural Materials in the UK
# The Complete Guide to Building With Natural Materials in the UK > **TL;DR: Start Here** > > Natural building materials like straw bale, cob, and reclaimed timber can create…
How to Get Planning Permission for a Natural Build in England and Wales
# How to Get Planning Permission for a Natural Build in England and Wales I’ve spent the last twelve years designing sustainable interiors, and increasingly my clients ask about going…
Why The Edge Amsterdam Is Called the Smartest Green Building on Earth
I’ll be honest, when I first heard about The Edge in Amsterdam being called the “smartest green building on Earth,” I rolled my eyes a bit. You know how these…
Acoustic Benefits of Natural Materials and How to Reduce Noise With Biophilic Design
# Acoustic Benefits of Natural Materials and How to Reduce Noise With Biophilic Design If you’ve ever tried to concentrate in an office with hard surfaces bouncing every keyboard click…
The Data Behind Natural Light: Why Your Workspace Needs More Daylight
When I first started optimizing my home office setup, I’ll admit I was focused on the obvious stuff – ergonomic chair, fast internet, decent monitor. Natural light wasn’t even on…
How I Accidentally Became the Dad Who Researches Natural Light Patterns (And Why My Kids Are Sleeping Better)
Look, I never thought I’d be the guy who has strong opinions about window coverings, but here we are. It started during those brutal 3am feeding sessions with our daughter…