Prince Charles makes a case for the commercial viability of green housing with traditional design, as opposed to the modernist styles typically associated with the future of low carbon homes.
"On the outside, the latest house to be designed by the Prince's Foundation looks like more of the same. It has a hipped roof, ground floor railings, sash windows, columns and imposing chimneys, which adhere to all the foundation's teachings on correct proportion.
But according to the foundation's chief executive Hank Dittmar, the true inspiration for the experimental home - which goes on site at the Building Research Establishment's innovation park near Watford next month - lies further afield at Taos Pueblo, a 1,000-year-old American Indian settlement in New Mexico.
Dittmar believes the solid wall adobe construction used at the Unesco world heritage site could pose a challenge to the more overtly modern eco-homes built at the park, including the Lighthouse by Sheppard Robson, the first home to have achieved level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
At the heart of the foundation's Natural House project - first revealed in BD almost a year ago - is the use of lightweight clay blocks, fired in a low-energy manufacturing process, the serrated edges of which fit together to create simply constructed, highly insulated walls. These will be combined with other "time-tested" materials such as lime and hemp render, timber and sheep's-wool insulation."
FULL STORY: Prince looks to past for the future
Prince Charles Lays Out a 10-Point Planning Agenda
The Prince of Wales took to the pages of The Architectural Review to share his vision for the future of architecture and planning.
London's Height Debate Reaches Fever Pitch
In the midst of a building boom and expecting another 1.4 million residents to live in the city by 2031, London is embroiled in a debate about how it should meet housing demands.
After 25 Years, Poundbury's Revolutionary Traditionalism Still Divides
Designed by architect Léon Krier, and spearheaded by Prince Charles, the 'model village' on 400 acres outside of Dorchester, England was begun 25 years ago. As Graham Norwood reports, its success is still a matter for debate.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service