[Versión en español abajo] Eco-housing is often assumed to cost more to build than conventional housing. The main way in which eco-construction costs are reduced is through self-build, but this does not help most people. Instead there is a need to reconceive the costs of eco-building and develop more radical alternatives for building low cost … Continue reading Building more affordable eco-housing worldwide
Building Collectively Is Greener, Easier, and Cheaper
Building a house is hard work. A decade ago my mum and I built an eco-house together. We loved it – the freedom of designing what spaces we wanted, the excitement of choosing only materials we wanted to use, and most of all the pure joy of moving in to the finished house. I have … Continue reading Building Collectively Is Greener, Easier, and Cheaper
Aldea Velatropa, Cuidad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Just to the north of Block 3 of the University, in the area known as Cuidad Universitaria (University City) are some concrete foundations surrounded by trees. At first glance it looks deserted but delve a little further into the undergrowth and you soon come across tell-tale signs of colourful political art work, a half-constructed some, … Continue reading Aldea Velatropa, Cuidad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Straw bale house, Yacanto, Córdoba, Argentina
With glorious views of the Sierra de Comechingones, the straw bale house at Yacanto is possibly the largest straw bale house in South America. At 257 metres square (excluding the terrace) and two floors, it is a large house. It was built by Tim Cullen and completed in 2005, with a second small house finished … Continue reading Straw bale house, Yacanto, Córdoba, Argentina
Casa Tierra, San Francisco del Monte de Oro, San Luis, Argentina
[Versión en español abajo] Miranda France in her book Bad Times in Buenos Aires said that to live in Argentina was ‘to live at the end of the world’ (1998, p.57). Yet traveling through the vast landscape of San Luis province on my way to Casa Tierra in San Francisco del Monte de Oro, I … Continue reading Casa Tierra, San Francisco del Monte de Oro, San Luis, Argentina