Category: Design

Building a Sustainable Future: The Rise of Bio-Construction in South Africa

Architecture, Bio-Construction, Construction, Design, Eco-Friendly

Building a Sustainable Future: The Rise of Bio-Construction in South Africa The modern construction industry is facing a crisis of conscience. Globally, it is responsible for nearly 40% of carbon emissions—a staggering figure that reflects not only the materials we use but also how we use them. In an era defined by climate change, resource […]

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Upcycling & Underconsumption

Conscious Consumer, Construction, Design, Eco-Friendly, Gardening, Products, Waste Management

Upcycling & Underconsumption In today’s fast-paced, consumer-driven society, it can be hard to escape the pressure of buying new things constantly. Whether it’s the latest fashion trends or upgrading to the newest tech gadget, we’ve been conditioned to embrace a culture of consumption. But there’s a growing movement that encourages us to rethink this pattern

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Sponge Cities and How They Work

Architecture, Conservation, Design, Environmental Restoration, Gardening, Sustainability, Town Planning, Water Management

Sponge Cities and How They Work Cities worldwide are grappling with the challenges of managing stormwater and preventing flooding in the face of increasing urbanization and climate change. Enter the concept of “sponge cities.” These innovative urban designs prioritize water absorption and management, mimicking natural processes to enhance urban resilience. By integrating green spaces, permeable

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Embracing Our Heritage: The Role of Natural Construction Materials

Architecture, Bio-Construction, Design, Environmental Restoration, Sustainability, Uncategorized

Embracing Our Heritage: The Role of Natural Construction Materials Heritage is a tapestry woven from the threads of our collective history, culture, and environment. It encompasses the practices, traditions, and materials that have shaped human civilization. Construction materials are a vital aspect of our architectural legacy. The way we build not only reflects our cultural

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What does an architect do?

Architecture, Construction, Design, Sustainability, Town Planning

What does an architect do? Introduction An architect in its simplest definition is a qualified person who designs, plans and supervises the construction of a building. The word architect is routed in the Greek word ‘arkhi’ meaning chief and ‘tekton’ meaning builder. Architects have probably been around for as long as people were building shelters

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Fighting climate-despair with Hope

Architecture, Construction, Design, Environmental Restoration, Sustainability

Fighting climate-despair with Hope Introduction: Climate despair, also called Ecological grief is defined as “the grief reaction stemming from the environmental loss of ecosystems by natural and man-made events.”[4] Another definition is “the grief felt in relation to experienced or anticipated ecological losses, including the loss of species, ecosystems, and meaningful landscapes due to acute or chronic environmental change.

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Floating Cities: The future or just a passing fad

Architecture, Construction, Design, Sustainability, Town Planning

Floating Cities: The future or just a passing fad Throughout history, humanity’s most iconic cities have been situated along coastlines and waterways. From Venice’s winding canals to New York’s bustling harbors, these cities have thrived near the water. However, in an era of unprecedented environmental challenges, the rising sea levels and coastal erosion now pose

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How to make your own wildlife pond: from start to finish

Design, Gardening, Sustainability

How to make your own wildlife pond: from start to finish Building your own pond might seem like a daunting task. How large should it be? How deep and how do I maintain it and not end up with an algae and mosquito-infested mess? A well-designed and planted wildlife pond can have many benefits for

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Building a Cob and Lime Pizza Oven and what we learned in the Process

Architecture, Bio-Construction, Construction, Design, Sustainability

What is Cob? Cob is an ancient building material that has been used for centuries worldwide. It is a natural and sustainable material made by mixing earth, sand, straw, and water. Cob has many advantages over other building materials; It is cheaper, more eco-friendly, and has excellent insulation properties. This blog post will discuss how

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Architecture and memory

Architecture, Construction, Design, Sustainability

Have you ever arrived or entered a building you had never visited, and it somehow felt familiar? Or revisited a childhood holiday destination and were somehow taken back to your youth? Almost like a memory triggered by a smell or Deja Vu, this undefined phenomenon could profoundly impact how we experience and live in our

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