Escheresque house of no walls by former Berlin wall by Kirsten Dirksen on April 15, 2018 When Helle Schröder and Martin Janekovic (XTH-Berlin architects) signed a 199-year lease on some land along the old Berlin Wall, they …
Designer builds efficient off-grid Passive House in Colorado by Kirsten Dirksen on September 24, 2017 Twenty years ago Andrew Michler bought a $60,000 solar shack in the Colorado mountains that “immediately fell apart” and inspired …
Dryland-harvesting home gathers sun, rain, food, & more by Kirsten Dirksen on August 7, 2016 When Brad Lancaster and his brother bought their home in downtown Tucson, the streetscape was a dusty place, devoid of …
Small wooden studio tucked away in calm forest near Barcelona by Kirsten Dirksen on March 6, 2016 Tasked with building a tiny studio in the hills outside Barcelona, architect Pablo Serrano Elorduy created an all-wooden shelter stunning …
Japanese-inspired charred wood tiny home in Ohio town by Kirsten Dirksen on April 6, 2015 When Alex Melamed and his wife moved to the traditional brick and mortar town of Yellow Springs, Ohio they built …
Off-grid self-reliance & survivalism in Australia’s outback by Kirsten Dirksen on October 7, 2013 When he was a teen, Link Knight saw his uncle go bankrupt and vowed to stay out of debt. Years …
Self-reliance in LA: backyard farm + radical home economics by Kirsten Dirksen on May 20, 2013 Erik Knutzen and Kelly Coyne have been farming their yard in Los Angeles for over a decade. In addition to …
Can suburban homesteads lead to higher well-being? by Kirsten Dirksen on September 25, 2011 “I think a majority of economists would agree that we’re at a fundamental turning point in terms of our financial …
Permaculture: a home that supplies water by Kirsten Dirksen on June 2, 2009 Permaculture is about working with nature toward more individual self-sufficiency, whether it’s food, energy or water. Rainwater harvesting involves capturing …
When is a house too big? by jenarcher on April 18, 2007 After 3 years of househunting, we have finally found a new home to fit our expanding family, but now I’m …