On our first morning there, and all subsequent mornings, Tabitha played a few notes on her violin to wake us up (in lieu of a loud, harsh alarm clock), which is when we realized how serious these
While many beekeepers use boxes to encourage bees to get busy, Tom Back's project better approximates their natural habitat. By weaving straw to create a well-insulated barrel-shaped vessel that is
The head of the mandala is comprised of the administrative complex on the top of the hill while the main research center travels from south to north and wraps around a central courtyard. Attracted to the
The lines of the house are incredibly smooth and fluid and reaches out to the surrounding landscape, which has been left wild and untethered. The art gallery consists of a transparent tunnel that further
A durable envelope clad in Vermont Slate keeps heat gain to an absolute minimum, while the wall and roof surfaces are also naturally ventilated to keep the breeze flowing. The home is also flooded with a
The pavilion is made of beech timber boards, creating an aerated truss system that encourages ivy and other hardy plants to grow in between the gaps. The walls of the structure also double as staircases
Along with its raised earth floor that connects the home's three volumes, timber on the interior and exterior gives this home its natural feel. Daylighting floods through a tall window, somtimes giving
With a mere 466 square meters to work with, Paul McAneary Architects had to be creative - although that doesn't seem to be a problem for them. They added three boxes to the building that are made from
Using natural materials such as wood, stone, and rock partitions (in addition to less-friendly concrete), the designers managed to strike a balance between luxury and simplicity with these rectangular
The Hey* armchair first made its appearance in Milan at this year's Fuorisalone. A seemingly questionable design when it comes to wear and tear -- at least at first glance -- the Hey* has actually been
When the community of Sra Pou, Cambodia was relocated from the city of Phnom Penh to the countryside, their new home was severely lacking in basic infrastructure, a secure environment and a sustainable
The concrete home is located on a hilltop overlooking the ocean in Weligama, Sri Lanka, and is composed of a series of platforms accessed by stairs. A large overhanging roof covers the entire space and is
The three-story building is clad in anodized, brown aluminum as a way of blending it into its forested surroundings. Described as a deer in the forest, the centre stands quietly amidst the trees. The
As the story goes, Freya and Robin lived on opposite sides of the lake and had never met. Robin lived on the north side of the lake and spent his days climbing trees and skipping about with the woodland
This Bahian house in Salvador is a five-bedroom home designed as a square with an interior courtyard. A reflecting pool on one side of the courtyard helps cool the air as breezes blow across it. Two large
01Mathery created this beautiful pine cone bike basket by cobbling together objects scavenged from the forest floor. The bountiful basket is made from an assortment of pine cones in all different shapes
The Sala Visitor Centre introduces visitors to local viticulture and oenology by offering local wines and fine dining. An exhibition on local wines serves as the entrance to the center, then visitors are
We’ve boasted the merits of the coconut before, but we forgot to mention that this delicious fruit is also provides for an incredible renewable material! Designed by Bambu, these colorful bowls come in
In 2008, Architectkidd was asked to design an architectural facade for a residential building called Happyland Townhouse in Bangkok, Thailand. The team chose to focus on natural materials and fibers, so
Photo by Matthew Snyder How do you blend the meditative and rejuvenating aspects of yoga with modern sustainable architecture? Peter Rose + Partners offers up an inspired solution with the newly
What do you give the woman who brought you into this world and raised you? For architect Benjamin Garcia Saxe, the answer was a beautiful bamboo retreat in Costa Rica. Some years ago, his mom stole away
Ikea showcased its brand new PS Collection at this weekend's International Contemporary Furniture Fair, and one of our favorite designs on display was this beautiful pendant lamp made from carefully
This super smart chair design from Cate & Nelson was one of the most clever ideas we found at ICFF this year. The Oz Lowchair, by designers Nelson Ruiz-Acal and Cate Högdahl, is an exercise in design
Domingos Tótora's natural fiber creations are some of the most imaginative and inspired designs we've seen. Driven by a passion for preservation, Tótora draws inspiration from natural landscapes to
While nothing beats reusable dishware for your festive events, these biodegradable plates from VerTerra are a great alternative to yucky paper or plastic dishes. VerTerra (true to the Earth) plates are
Is it a giant stuffed animal? A piece of furniture? Both? These cuddly hand knit woolen poufs were one of the first things to catch our eye on opening day of Salone Internazionale del Mobile. Promoting
The Nut Bench is fun, colorful and made from pineapple paper to boot! Bangkok-based Yothaka International creates hand-woven, modern Asian designs using local natural fibrous materials available in
